Reflections on love and honesty

 

As my friend and I shared our weekly lunch out (a bowl of French fries between us then a chocolate brownie split down the middle and coffee!), we discussed a wide range of subjects as we always do.

 

One of our topics of conversation was about being honest with each other. This followed on from a Life Group study when we discussed if we said or did certain things (or didn’t say or do certain things) in order to win people’s favour or approval.

Most of us in the group denied this! However, I wondered if we could say that truthfully if we really examined ourselves and our motives and if this was the case, did we do the same to win God’s approval? 

 

I challenged my friend about something she had started to say in that week’s Life Group then had said with obvious frustration, ‘oh it doesn’t matter’. It was obviously important to her but she chose not to finish her sentence. When she described what it was she had a very valid point and it was quite different than I expected. She denied feeling frustrated but I explained that it had sounded like it and left us wondering what was wrong. We discussed what she could have said and how she could have said it.  I appreciated so much that she was willing to have this conversation as it gave her the freedom to then challenge me on something she had noticed. It was a special moment and did bring home to us the importance of love. If we aren’t honest with each other, is it because of love or because of more selfish reasons. Is it reasonable to challenge people about being honest especially in a group of friends? I want my friends to make me accountable for anything that doesn’t reflect a Christian lifestyle. It is however, important to use appropriate language and voice tone and say it with love rather than annoyance or frustration.

 

We agreed that communication is fraught with difficulties even in the closest relationship. May all our communications be made with patience, honesty and love and above all, honour God.

 

Bless you each in your multitude of communication this week.