Greatest Commandment…and how can we do this?

Mr 12:30-31 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

I was pondering this this morning and thinking, how can as a wife, mother and friend fufill this in my daily life? I am just a wife, mother and friend of people. I am busy. I have a life here at home. Then too, I cannot neglect my duties at home for serving others.

I think this is the hardest thing to do. Sometimes it seems like we want to do big things to serve God, we can handle the first commandment, but the second one is the hard one.

How can I love my neighbor like myself? There are the people it is hard to love, the people who hurt you with words or simply uncaring deeds.

I wonder if sometimes we realize though how much a simple deed that takes 10 minutes can matter to someone.

I have been really struggling and just a email or a note in the mail or even a quick phone call have really turned my day around.

I am very shy so a visit really can unnerve me, I worry that I cannot keep the conversation going, or if I am having a hard time, I will not tell you…even if you know I am.

I need you to read me and know me like you know yourself. There is a different way of reaching out to others and it is caring for them and loving them in deeds, not just words.

It is taking the time to build a relationship, even when you are busy and homeschool.

My sister went through a nasty divorce and when people cared to just feed her and have fun that meant alot to her. She really didn't want to discuss the rights and wrongs of the relationship as it all hurt bad enough.

Maybe it depends on the kind of person you know, but I think the extra work of keeping a friendship and loving our neighbors like ourselves are important. I don't think Jesus would have said that it was the second greatest commandment for nothing!

I think actually we will find fufillment in serving others, but loving them, even when it seems like maybe all the math didn't get done. But maybe your son or daughter may have learned a lifelong lesson….people are more important than the things that fade away. Math, clean houses and schedules fade away, but souls will be with us later in eternity.

(Disclaimer: I think school is very important, and should not be put off at all times for other things!! )