“You only hurt the ones you love.” You’ve heard that old saying, right? Any truth to it? I think there is. Often it seems like we act and say our worst behind closed doors with our family (particularly after a week with them over Thanksgiving break 😊), while putting on our best face for the rest of the world. We’re sunny and friendly and polite with friends, co-workers, and others, but at home we say and do things we know we could never get away with at work, school, or church.
I’ve been thinking about that saying in the context of our theme for this school year “Christ-fit for Service” based on 1 Peter 4:10-11. Our theme focus for December is Christ-fit to serve through love based on Galatians 5:13: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Unfortunately serving our family in love is not something that comes naturally to us as sinners. The challenge I often face is that instead of loving and serving my wife and children, I make them sacrifice so I can spend time on my work at St. Luke’s, or on leisure activities I think I’ve “earned”. I get caught up in all the “important” things I must do, and my family gets the crumbs that are left over. It’s something I work on with the Lord’s help every day. God calls us to serve our family in love – to put their needs before our own and set apart our time and treasures for their benefit. Instead of “You only hurt the ones you love” how about “You always serve the ones you love” instead?