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MEDITATION:

Written by Valerie E. Hess, a contemporary speaker and author. This is an excerpt from her book “Spiritual Disciplines Devotional.”

Sometimes in a relationship, the only service we can render is to love the other person. Whether it is a friend or a child in a tough circumstance, a family member in crisis, or a neighbor who dislikes you, loving actions may be all we can do. I am a fix-it person. Whenever my children or friends have problems I want to swoop in and make everything OK. Many times that is not only impossible, but it’s not wise. We may need to let our children, our friends, and our family members learn hard lessons, even though it is difficult for us to stand back and watch. Those of us who have dealt with adolescents knows that in the desire to be independent (a healthy quality, by the way), they often do not want help, which they view as interference. In those cases, all we can do, as parents or teachers, is stand back and find ways to love them by the things we do (or don’t do) and say (or don’t say). This is a form of godly service. Remember, in self-righteous service, we do things for others because it will make us feel better. In true service, we do things for others because it will make them feel better.

PRAYER:

Written by Augustine of Hippo (354-430), an early Christian theologian and philosopher. He was the bishop of Hippo Regius (modern day Annaba, Algeria) and is viewed as one of the most important church fathers in Western Christianity.

Therefore, once for all this short command is given to you: “Love and do what you will.” If you keep silent, keep silent by love: if you speak, speak by love; if you correct, correct by love; if you pardon, pardon by love; let love be rooted in you, and from the root nothing but good can grow.