I thought I had my wires crossed when I was preparing to write the column for this fourth week of Advent. For some reason, I found conflicting information for the weekly themes. One source mentions this is the week of “joy,” which I touched on last week. Another one assures me I’m on the right track with the theme being “love” for this last column before Christmas. Whichever source is correct I am unsure, but I can’t turn back the hands of time to change it for this column so we will just run with some “love.”
Do you ever get your wires crossed? In the early 1900’s there were literally telephone and telegraph wires that would be accidentally crossed and disrupt calls people would be trying to make. This is where we got this saying today. “Getting our wires crossed” means to have a different understanding of the same situation. It is easy, today, to misunderstand or misinterpret something that was said and get our “wires crossed.”
The opportunity to get offended has been available to all of us many times in our lives, even many times in one day. As a society, we seemed to have lost our broad shoulders and take things much more personal than we used to do so. We all have our opinion and are entitled to it. Coupled with the fact that we have many more convenient ways to express our opinions and make them known makes for a pretty eruptive environment in which to live. It is so easy to get our wires crossed and take things the wrong way.
This is where love comes in. In the spirit of advent this week, let’s have a quick review of what true Bible love is. Jesus is the perfect example for us. The good news is that He has equipped us to live like Him. Love, according to the Infallible Word of God, never fails. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Insert your own name in that passage. Aim to allow the love of Jesus flow through you, especially into the difficult relationships you may encounter this Christmas season. Keep your love on and spread some around to those who least deserve it. Christmas gives us opportunity to pause and reflect on what Jesus has done for us. He provides us the love that we need in order to love those around us. The good news is that we don’t have to drum up that love; it comes from Him!
The more confident we are in His love, the less offended we will become. The more confident we are in His love, the less worried we are about what others think of us. The more we are confident in His love, the more loving we become! Fill up on His love for you and watch it overflow to others. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5”:8
That is the best gift of all! My prayer is that you will encounter the real, true, lasting love of God this Christmas. May you see family restitution and forgiveness flow. May you embrace His hope, peace, joy and especially love this Christmastime. From my heart to yours, Merry Christmas.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
