Lessons In Loyalty

Have you ever felt alone?

 We are all going to go through situations where we are challenged, and that’s usually when you find out who has your back.  Knowing that you have people that love and support you unconditionally is a beautiful thing…something that is earned, almost synonymous with trust.  

If you have someone who is loyal to you in your life, don’t take it for granted.  Loyal friends stick with you through the highs and through the lows.  They don’t desert you when things get tough, but instead help you navigate your way through the mess covering you in prayer and assuming the best in you instead of the worst. This demonstrates love and kindness.

God loves his children no matter what and he gave us Jesus to help us.  This should be the model we follow within our own earthly families, but that can be hard to do.  When we are wounded by friends and family members it can take a long time to get over it, but it’s important to stand firm with people even when they have ticked you off.  

Humility is essential in bringing about reconciliation.  It is easy, very easy, to assume the worst: that the person MEANT to hurt your feelings, was looking to start an argument or purposely set out to stir things up.  It is much harder to swallow your pride and see the best possibility, to see the loyalty that a friend or family member has shown over the years.

Much of society is looking to get ahead and further their own agenda, and they will step on whoever is in their way in order to climb further up the ladder to the heights they are seeking.  Stay alert for people who might use you in terms of spreading your secrets, turn on you or just flat out make stuff up about you to tarnish your reputation.  One of the hardest things about being a parent is watching as your kids develop friendships with people who aren’t good for them, and then watching them hurt in the aftermath when that realization sets in.

If you read this, and feel that you are alone, know that you aren’t.  

There are people who love you.  

One person who loves you unconditionally is Jesus Christ.  You can trust Him implicitly.  When you feel like friends and family have betrayed you, He will be there.  He has been betrayed, knows the depth of the pain it can bring and He wants to heal you because He understands.  Don’t allow the enemy to mess with your mind.  Believe the truth.  Our thinking determines decisions, our decisions determines our habits, our habits determine our character, character determines our destiny. 

Father-
Help me stay true to what I believe in, not to be judgmental of others but loving them through issues, and relying onYou for all direction. Thank You for placing people in my life that have my back no matter what.  Open my eyes and allow me to see them and trust them.  Thank You for the sacrifice that Jesus made for me.  His betrayal and punishment took away my sins, and I am totally unworthy of that.   Forgive me when I allow my mind to assume the worst in people and choose to turn my back on people instead of love them.

Amen.

Passages to Ponder:
Romans 12:2- Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

James 3:17- But the wisdom from above is first of all pure.  It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.  It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds.  It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

Proverbs 19:22- Loyalty makes a person attractive.  It is better to be poor than dishonest.

Contributors:  Karen Bromby, Monica Brown, Kathy Derda, Maria Kucharczuk, Kim McClure and Kristy Tolley