Loving the Unlovely

Hola.
I've been quite sick these past few days. Slowly recovering from a nasty virus.
I wish I had great insight to share with you or even a wonderful story. But I don't. This virus had me shut down. So dear friends, this post comes not from me but from Nichol Naranjo from She Ministries.

Loving the Unlovely
Written by: Nichol Naranjo

Growing up I had two women in my life that filled the role of the grandmother I didn't have. I'm thankful for them both, and learned many things simply by watching them.

One of these women was very dominant, opinionated, independent, and unstoppable. By many, she would be considered a "strong" woman. She lived a life of hurt and heartache, and sought to please no one. Her opinions could be heard a mile away.

The second woman I grew up with was quite the opposite. She was quiet, kind, the most selfless woman I know. She lived to serve others. By many, she would be considered a "weak" woman. She also lived a life of hurt and heartache, sharing her home with an abusive husband.

The difference in these two women is that the latter loved God so much that all she could do was love, even her cruel husband.

As a little girl, I thought of the gentle, quiet-spirited one as a woman of weakness. It frustrated me that she loved and served her husband when he could be so mean. He didn't notice her servant's heart. But God did. It wasn't until I became an adult that I realized the woman of quiet words yet loud actions of love was actually the stronger of the two. You see, she drew her strength from the Lord and she died to herself daily. Her husband later asked her forgiveness on his death bed and accepted Christ. She loved him till the very end. Today, her face still radiates His love, joy, and peace.

She lived out 1 Peter 3:1-4: And because of that today, her children call her blessed.