July 17
Scripture: Luke 6:41
Source author: Dianne Fraser
July 17
Love Leads the Way And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? —Luke 6:41
My family was driving me to distraction with bad tempers and disappointing attitudes. My usually mild husband was struggling at work. He took his frustration out by yelling at the sports teams on television and behaving aggressively. My normally placid oldest child decided that he would enjoy provoking his younger brother—and ignored my pleas to stop. My youngest was expressing his dislike of swimming lessons by throwing tantrums. His teacher had been on the phone, advising me of the latest antics. I thought I would turn to my Bible to find some words of wisdom to share with them—to make them see the errors of their ways. However, the message that leaped from its pages spoke to me instead. I read Jesus’s words about judging others and looking at myself first. I read about blessing others, not cursing them— and I decided I needed to examine my own heart. Then I prayed, and not only did I begin to feel love for my family again, but they began to change too.
The ones we love often don’t need our judgment—they need our prayers. — Dianne Fraser —