“I didn’t know it would be this hard.”
He’s a tough guy. Lived on the streets, sold drugs, survived and in many ways thrived in a harsh, violent world.
To me, THAT sounds hard, always looking over your shoulder and sleeping with one eye open, never knowing who to trust, literally fighting your way through every day. I can’t really imagine what that would be like, but it seems like it would be about the most difficult life possible.
He walked away, gave it all up. He put down the weapons, left the addictions, turned away from the violence. He dropped the defenses, the armor, the force field that surrounded him. He decided to try to trust and believe in something bigger than himself.
He decided to follow Jesus.
He didn’t expect easy. But he didn’t expect it to be this hard.
I asked, “What’s so hard?”
“Loving people. Letting them love me.”
Does that surprise you? Who would’ve imagined love would be harder than guns and violence and drugs and death, harder than guarding every move and suspecting every motive?
# # #
Love means vulnerability. It means sacrifice. It means commitment to what’s right rather than my rights.
Love means the other guy might win, because it’s not about winning. It means listening and understanding before speaking.
Love means a priority on relationships and processes, not short-term results. It means valuing and practicing gratitude, abundance, and service.
He’s right—love is really hard.
I’m glad we don’t have to do it alone.
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