FILL ER UP!

Have you ever run a little late for work or an appointment? For some reason you lost track of time, quickly gathered your things, rushed out of the house, shoes in hand, fumbling for the RIGHT key on a 3-key ring, fumbling to get the seatbelt to click that refuses to click, throw the RIGHT key into the ignition only to realize the needle on the gas gauge is resting on an empty tank. We quickly drive to the nearest gas station, many times not even our “Favorite” gas station, fill our empty tank and race to work or appointment to deal with the anxiety of the moment for the rest of the day.

I have another question, have you ever had an argument with your children? I see those eyebrows rising. It starts with a question, then a concern, elevating to a challenge and ending in disagreement and anger. What about a disagreement at work, with your spouse, friend or neighbor? How did it go? My guess, probably not to well, at least in the beginning. A disagreement at work is one thing, but a disagreement with a child, our spouse, friend or neighbor is another. Why? Because it involves trust and trust includes love.

Have you ever noticed that Trust and Love always have their hand extended? A hand that is always, yes always, offering to give, to support, to believe in the best and contend for the highest possible good for the OTHER person. How is that possible? Because Trust and Love can only give what they have and who they are. They listen to hear; they empathize to understand and offer insight and perspective when it’s ASKED for. And the entire time they rest in who they are, Trust and Love.

There is One who, at any moment, offer’s His Love to any heart that asks for it. A Love that is large and incredibly patient, a Love that is gentle and consistently kind, a Love that is not easily offended, creates a place of shelter and never stops contending for the highest possible good in the OTHER person’s life until it becomes a present tense reality (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). If you’ve rushed out the door and jumped into life this morning only to realize your Love tank is low, instead of rushing to the nearest station that only offers disagreement and anger, take just a few minutes to pull into His station, your “Favorite” station, where He offers Agape Love free of charge. Fill Er Up!