Love-what does it really mean?

Lately I've been hearing a lot of things regarding bullying in the news. Most of them being teen gays who were ridiculed so much, they ended their lives because they couldn't handle it anymore. I watched a movie called 'Cyber Bully' that had aired on ABC family. I don't know when but I watched it on Netflix. It was an eye opener to a possible scenario of what my children and their peers could go through. Not say they will, but it's possible. I then, just today, read a blog titled 'I'm Christian, unless you're gay". Very powerful blog. It talked about how people all over the world are being persecuted for who they are, what they believe, and how they choose to live. Not just gays, but addicts, smokers, obese people, and so on. How we, as a whole people, are making like we are better and therefore, have every right to treat people the way we do. It pointed out that all the major religions, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, all have one major belief that is the same. To love. Which I actually found to be very interesting! I didn't know that or realize that at all. It was really a great read. It talked about how we need to love people and that when we start doing that, then our world can start to become a better place. Which we know wont happen, but it's something we should do. Maybe then we'd have less teen suicides, and less people feeling like they are less then what they really are. Maybe then, people would actually have a reason to live.

I'm a Christian. I do believe that we are to hate the sin, but to love the sinner. I believe that live a gay lifestyle is wrong, I believe that doing drugs and drinking excessively is wrong, I believe that murder, and adultery, is wrong. But I also believe that people make mistakes, that they deserved to corrected in love but if they still chose that lifestyle, that I'm still to love them. I have a couple gay friends, a couple of friends not married and having kids, and living together, I have underage friends who are drinking. And they all know where I stand in my beliefs and yet they are all still a part of my life. Because I choose to love them. I choose to keep them in my life. They are great people. People who have stuck by my side and were there for me. People who I believe, God has put in my life for a reason.

Now I wasn't always this way. When I first started to really believe in God and think for myself, I thought that sinners were bad. I mean the ones who did really bad things that the Bible was clear was wrong. I said mean and hurtful things to those people not realizing what I was saying that in all reality, I was actually being a hypocrite. I preached about Love and God and yet I was doing judging people instead of loving people. God has called us to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind." And to "Love your neighbor as yourself" Not your "good" neighbors, or the ones who aren't doing bad things. But to love everyone, regardless of who they are. And shame on me for judging them. I know how that feels. How that hurts. I've never been popular, or good looking, or the most beautiful, or the best singer, or piano player. I was never athletic, I quit band and swimming as soon as I could, I never really did anything. I use to be super skinny and self conscious and now I'm about 40 lbs overweight and still self conscious. I've been made fun of for everything. I didn't understand something, I misspoke, I played something wrong, I was too skinny, I am overweight, I have freckles and glasses. I'm not stylish or rich. I dont drink coffee or like have the movies/music my friends and family do. I've been ridiculed for it and came home many times from school in tears. Even my own youth group which is suppose to be full of loving and accepting people would ridicule me! I came home many Wednesday nights in tears. I know how it feels to be bullied and made fun of. So what gave me the idea that it was ok to do the same?? Believe, I try now not to. I really want to instill in my children that despite their sin, we are to still love the sinner. Is that not what God has done for us? We are so unworthy and undeserving of his love and yet he died on a cross so we could be forgiven. He loves us despite the crap we pull, the excuses we make, and the things we do. He doesn't make fun of us, or ridicule us, or bully us. He LOVES us. And he's asked us to do the same. Why is it so hard? I mean, really. If someone is sinning, you correct them in love and then you leave it in God's hands. Ultimately the decision is theirs, and if they choose not to change, then GOD will deal them. Not you. It's not your place. You are to LOVE them regardless. Be there for them. Stand beside them.

So many times I've heard from friends that the reason they wont go to church is because it's full of money hungry hypocrites. And their right! We think we are above them. They are beneath us because they aren't in line with God's word. Let me remind you of something, YOU AREN'T PERFECT! NO ONE BUT GOD IS! SO STOP TRYING! If we were more loving, then I woulnd't be terrified to send my children to school. I don't care if it's private or public, you still get the same problems! My sister went to a Christian school and the crap that went on their was the same crap I dealt with in public school. It terrifies me that we have internet and that things can be said to my child in the privacy of my own home! It use to be that you could get it at work, school, church, or wherever you happen to be but could go home and get away from it all. And now you can't! You open your laptop, turn on your computer, or get on your phone and it's right there. Staring right at you. You can't escape it! I have to teach my children the importance of God's message. To love your neighbor as yourself. Despite our disabilities, lifestyle, choices, we are people with feelings who just want to be loved and respected and to know that people out there care. And I want my children to be those people! They will hopefully be the one person who stands of for those being bullied. The person who is friends with everyone despite who they are. I want my house to be a place that regardless of who you are, what you believe, and how you live, you will be comfortable to be here. You will feel at peace and at home. I promise to try and be the best person I can be and to love and respect you for you. I love having a variety of friends. Makes my life interesting!

So the question to you is, are you the one who's spewing hateful/hurtful words or are you the one with open loving arms, waiting to be a friend to someone who really needs it?