Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17 KJV)

This scripture could not be more poignant.

Amazingly, the Lord’s hand has still been upon me even when I have become frustrated, even when I have shed tears out of compassion and a lack of understanding with the questions of Why, What and How juggling around in my brain. I know I’ve said “amazingly” but in all knowing, it has been His mercy and grace that has kept me. It has been His compassion and patience to show me the very things I needed to hear and see through His eyes and understanding.

Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22 NKJV)

If we love someone, we will not give up on them. If we love them, we will do what’s right for the sake of righteousness.

May we be merciful upon those who bring strife, upon those that seemingly make something out of nothing, upon those who fall away from what’s right to start walking, talking and acting as if they never knew God’s truths. If they are not a believer and follower of Christ, the fruit we show bears witness to Whom we belong to and how we live out life as an example.

We all hurt and express our pain and emotions in many ways. Through our longsuffering, love and patience with others, a heap of coals could be removed from their heads if we treat them in a Christ-like manner.

No one is perfect.

Jesus met us right where we were in all of our mess waiting to clean us up, love on us, be our Friend who would never lie to us just to make us feel better. He sharpens us more than any other friend we could ever have in our lives just to give us a life that would be easier to bear spiritually by living right and doing so accordingly.

Love Above All Else ❤