capacity to love.

i'm trying really hard not to miss home. naturally, i miss my family and dear friends that seem distant, living their lives that i once was physically involved in. lives that i invested in. and them in me. lives that are genuine, full of love, and lives that are lived well. friends that, no matter what - no matter how far, i will constantly think about. pray for. and have strings attached to my heart for miles on end. friends who are a phone call, a snail mail drop, or a facebook message away.

i'm being reminded that we were created with a huge capacity to love and be loved in return. we were made to invest into each other's lives wholeheartedly.

sometimes, i get stuck there -emotionally, physically, and even spiritually - in a place that wants to help too far. when offended, hurt, or betrayed, i find myself wounded by what seems to be a lack of respect toward the time and energy spent investing. *{please take note this is not directed at anyone specifically by any means} what i'm learning and thinking about is called ministry. a path that the hubby and i are being told {quite often} is hard. a mission that we know we've been called on. a mission that leads to pain. reward. battles. and victories. a journey of loving through the pain. and having the capacity to love only because Christ first loved us.

i ask myself this: did Jesus continue walking His path - cross on back, spit flying at his face, people mocking, laughing? did He finish what needed to be done? did He still die for me when it was MY sin that led Him there?

absolutely.

did He let offensive behavior and disappointment change His mind?

no.

He loved until death.

He loves now through life.

what am i called to do?