Charity suffereth long, and is kind, charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. -- 1 Corinthians 13:5.
Author Eric Elder tells the story of two friends who were walking through a desert together when one of the friends slapped the other in the face. The one who was slapped wrote a note in the sand saying: "Today my best friend slapped me in the face."
But as they walked further along, the one who had been slapped fell into a pool of water and began to drown. His best friend reached down and pulled him out of the water, saving his life. This time the friend who had been rescued etched a note on a stone saying "Today my best friend saved my life."
When asked why he wrote one note in the sand and the other note in stone, the one who had been slapped and then rescued replied: "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand, where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone, where no wind can erase it."
Many times we never let the winds of time take away the hurts we receive from others, but rather transfer them on to slabs of cement. Want to be healthier and happier? Then daily take the twin vitamins of forgive and forget.
Valentine's Day -- the day for all those who are in love and all those who can remember what it was (cautiously) to be in love was celebrated on Tuesday, February 14. For me it was Monday, February 13 because many years ago I walked the aisle and repeated the most used, misused words "To have and to hold, to love, cherish and obey, in sickness and in health, 'till death do us part." Sometimes I wonder if the excitement of the day wafts us into a state of unconsciousness and we have no semblance of what in this world we were repeating, from someone who in many cases, never took the first baby step towards the sacred altar.
Today in our text the Apostle Paul is telling us that love keeps no record of wrongs. If we are to live our lives to the fullest, we must forgive those who have hurt us in many ways and write it on the sands of time. Never etch them on tablets of stone as they will only lead to stress which is a mess and puts a hole in your chest. Love is like a hurdling race -- you come to an obstacle, jump over it and keep on going. How many of us have over and over gone down the tracks of time and overcome drawbacks, setbacks, snares and ambushes because the anchor of love was securely fastened by our faith.
It is so sad when you read or hear of almost unbelievable stories of what "lovers" do to each other for the love of money. The case of the young couple on their honeymoon going scuba diving and she is strangled beneath the waters, for the sake of insurance money. Or using the vows of love to end one's life again for the love of money. Every time I hear of an upcoming wedding, I pray to God for the success of the same because there are many who are "wolves in wedding attire".
But true love casts out fear and if the love of God abounds, then the sacred vows of marriage lead on to the joy of children and family life. Not only must we love at the altar, but we must extend love to all we meet and come in contact with.  I have never seen so many nasty things being said about each other now that election is around the corner.
Why hate someone because of his or her political affiliation?  Each person has his/her own opinion as to the choice of candidate.  You vote your conscience, but when it comes to the place that you vote because of the noise of the crowd, then you are a national liability.  Deception is an enemy of liberation.  To do wrong to be right on election night is the burden on the shoulders of the wrong-doers and disaster to the nation.  To take advantage of the distressed, emotionally charged situation of one and offer porridge for birthright is a slap in the face of justice, love and righteousness.  No deed good or bad, when committed ever goes away, but tarries for the day of return.
I pray that you reread Paul's 13th letter of the first of two volumes to the church at Corinth -- hence The Corinthians.  To those who are married or about to be married, it would do you good to read it together so that the words will be your constant guide as you go from day to day.  I do pray that families read it together and children take it as their road map.
There is an upcoming opportunity when we as Bahamians can show to the world that we are indeed a peaceful people, a Christian nation and the love of God flows in our hearts.  Indeed the time is now when we will lift up our heads to the rising sun, and let the world take note of the manner of our bearing which is love for God, brotherhood and country.
 
E-mail rubyanndarling@yahoo.com or write to P.O. Box SS19725, Nassau, Bahamas with your prayer requests, concerns and comments. God's Blessings!

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