Yes, Paul led his friends into all sorts of risks for Christ's sake, but they followed him cheerfully, confident of his love for them. Paul's letters glow with warm appreciation and personal affection for his fellows.

If I want to be loved as I am, I have to be willing to love others as they are.

Edwin Markham wrote, There is a destiny that makes us brothers: None goes his way alone: All that we send into the lives of others Comes back into our own.17

People will not always remember what you said. They will not always remember what you did. But, they will always remember how you made them feel.

Christmas is the season of joy, of holiday greetings exchanged, of gift-giving,and of families united.

The text was Jesus' commandment from the twelfth chapter of Mark to love thy neighbor as thyself. Dominie said that loving our neighbor didn't necessarily mean we must feel loving emotions toward them, but that we must speak lovingly to them, rather than in anger or derision. And we must do acts of lovingkindness and compassion, deliberately and frequently, demonstrating the undeserved grace God shows to us.

Acceptance is like an antibiotic that prevents past rejections from turning into present-day infections. The need for belonging runs deep.

God made us For Giving. God made you For Giving. God made me For Giving.

God calls us to obey Him. God does not call us to obey every wish and whim of other people. God calls us to love other people. God does not call us to demand that they love us back and meet every need we have.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:9 — 12)

We are obliged to love one another. We are not strictly bound to "like" one another.

If you don't have the gift of a loving supportive family, be that gift for someone else. It doesn't have to be a relative, just someone you know who is alone or hurting over the holiday.