Blue Monday – All We Need Is Love
It’s a cold damp January Monday and many of us probably awoke anxious about various issues – wondering how cold does it have to get before we switch the heating on and if we dare to switch it on how are we going to pay for it? How are we going to feed our family and pay the bills this month? I recall my Mum who said January was in her view the longest and most depressing month of the year. Today is otherwise known as – ‘Blue Monday’.
However, I woke up to an encouraging quote posted up by my friend Pete on FB – ‘The only meaningful thing we can offer one another is love. Not advice, not questions about our choices, not suggestions for the future, just love.’ This heart-warming quote is by the controversial American author Glennon Melton. And I agree because as Christians we can often feel, when someone shares their difficulties with us that we have to ‘fix’ them. I am so guilty of this, I try to work out ways in which I can help to solve their problem, but this is only from my perspective, the way I see it and the way I would deal with it. This is not always helpful.
Sometimes all a person needs is – to know that they are loved – unconditionally! A listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a silent prayer, and a hand held. We can’t always intervene to change a person’s situation, but we can offer to patiently hold their hand while they attempt to manage their thoughts and work through their problem.
Here are some encouraging scriptures about love – may they bless us today and always as we cling to the love and hope we have in Jesus.
LET US PRAY
A PRAYER FOR RESTING IN GOD’S LOVE
God of Goodness, I come into your presence so aware of my human frailty and yet overwhelmed by your love for me. I thank you that there is no human experience that I might walk through where your love cannot reach me.
If I climb the highest mountain you are there and yet if I find myself in the darkest valley of my life, you are there. Teach me today to love you more.
Help me to rest in that love that asks nothing more than the simple trusting heart of a child.
– Author Unknown
Taken from https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/
RESOURCES
Love Wins: At the Heart of Life’s Big Questions book by Rob Bell
Love, Henri: Letters on the Spiritual Life by Henri Nouwen
A song from Ish – Love Is Not Just What We Say