And they'll know we are Christians by our love

Remember that song? My husband claims to have never heard it. And I had forgotten it until I read it as a bit of a sarcastic comment regarding a judgemental post by an evangelist recently.

This week my husband described a sin he struggles with as a bear on the other side of the fence at all times. You have to make sure that you keep the gate of the fence locked and secured. Always. My struggle throughout my Christian walk has been gossip and passing judgement. It is the bear on the other side of my fence.

For years people knew I was a Christian because I said so if they knew at all or because I had a poor opinion of you if you weren't. Did anyone know I was a Christian because of the love I showed them? Prolly not.

 When asked to answer what God had delivered me from this week at small group I'm hesitant to say I've been delivered from this bear.

Overall, God has brought me leaps and bounds in how I treat and love new people I meet. I've become great at finding the good in people But it's those people in my past, people who the old me judged and talked about for years. The ones whose dirty laundry I knew and the ones who know mine. It was my defense mechanism I suppose.

And if I'm honest, the bear on the other side of my fence isn't a little cub. He's a big ass grizzly. He knows how to have sweet eyes to entice me over and look all cute. He knows the names of the people who, when brought up I'm likely to tense up and have a snappy comment about.

So I'm working on it. God is helping me build a higher fence and a more secure gate. But I know this bear will be there as long as I am here. He will not go away and just when I get comfortable enough to let my guard down he will show up, hungry.

I'm working on finding the good in those people that I think may not have much. Because God found it in me when there was next to none. I hope He's helping people to know I am His by the love I show.