Love Continues

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So in this next post (it’s been awhile I know) on love I’m feeling lead to write about tough love. It wasn’t where I was planning to go but here I am.

As mother’s many times we are called to “tough” love. It hurts. It is no fun for anyone. Tough love isn’t fun to give or to receive. But it is often needed.

We are called to raise Godly children. To help them learn obedience to us so that they learn to be obedient to Christ. Their flesh, our flesh too for that matter, often gets in the way of obedience. But love must push us to be our best. And our best can only be accomplished through obedience to Christ. And when tough love is required, it is mandated in scripture.

Proverbs 13:24  He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

But tough love isn’t only for us to give. Sometimes tough love must be given at church, the work place, or with our friends and family. In many situations, we may be tempted to “baby”, “hold the hand”, or otherwise, “spoil” people. We think that to show the “love of Christ” we must fill needs. And while filling needs is often part of the calling, sometimes filling needs can actually hurt others.

The same action always creates the same reaction. So, if the first hand out didn’t solve the money trouble, the second and third one probably won’t either. If the first time you ignored the gossipping wasn’t the last time that it happened, ignoring it again probably won’t make it go away either. And well, you get my point.
Tough love is a love that make the giver uncomfortable too. We hate to be deemed “judgemental” or “harsh, unloving, and unkind”. But even Christ gave us this example when he spoke to the rich young ruler.

Mark 10:21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 

When the young man didn’t like what Jesus said He didn’t run over to him and try to bargain with Him. He didn’t water down the truth to make the man feel better. He stood by the truth. No matter how people percieve it, no matter how akward it makes us feel, at times the TRUTH requires that we show tough love.
 

Somethings should not be compromised, and at times, when people are not following scripture, or they are not being responsible and obedient citizens, we can’t just turn a blind eye. We must look on them in love. And love them enough to stand firm, and push them to be all that Christ desires them to be. Same as with our children, standing firm and carrying out punishment is not easy or fun but if we truly desire our children to be followers of Christ with all their heart we must love them enough to hold them to high standards.

Let’s help creat arrows for the kingdom that are focused on the “mark” of Christ. That when we shoot them out on their own they will fly toward the target. Not being pulled or pushed by anything or anyone.

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