Believing the Best

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...”

Because we are all quirky in so many different ways, in order to get along, we must learn to look past all of that and choose to love each other ANYWAY. True love is not based on feelings - true love is a choice. It is also not a reaction – it is an action. Wait, am I talking about love again? I think, before we can truly forgive or look past each other’s unique tendencies, we have to truly love...

My husband has been very patient with me when it comes to all of my interesting traits - and I with him. Of course we all do things that are annoying, so I attempt to label this category as “amusing.” This simulates an ongoing “forgiving” attitude where you look past certain things, and not let them get to you.

Another level of forgiveness is “believing the best” of someone, which is more important than you think. Miscommunication is so common. It is so easy to react before getting to the truth of the matter. If someone says to you, “I do this” but “this” is not a good thing. Ask them, “Did you mean to say...?” Chances are they were THINKING “I do NOT do this” but forgot that little word “not.” So easy to do! Or you hear a piece of gossip about how someone spoke out against you. It’s just best to go to that person and ask them directly if they actually really said that. This can avoid so much grief.

We know that none of us are perfect. We know that we all make mistakes. But should we not think that, for the most part, people are sincerely trying to do the right thing. Give them the benefit of the doubt, and an opportunity to explain themselves. And if it was their “error,” give them a chance to apologize for it and/or correct it. Why blow it out of proportion so that reconciliation is made more difficult? Would we not rather have more friends than enemies?