Daily Devotions

I had my first experience with a daily devotional book in 1987 and have been a fan of them ever since.  Some years I've had a daily devotional calendar.  One year I actually had daily devotional cards (that didn't work very well for me).  The church I was reared at (Unity) had a call in devotional that worked for me for about a year and a half.  I've even tried internet based devotional sites.  My favorite is still a daily devotional book - of which I have a few.

For whatever reason quite time every morning followed by a devotional time and reading sets the tone for beautiful peace filled days for me.  And, very often my devotional reading for the day speaks to an issue I have or will invariably come face to face with during the course of each respective day.

Today, I want to share with you a modified excerpt from my devotional reading for today from the book "A Pocketful of Hope" by Mary Crowley, founder of Home Interiors.

To be lovable and sweet to 'whomever' when they are lovable and sweet to you is not really giving - that's trading.  So often we make trades in life.  We're sweet and kind to the people who are sweet and kind to us.  To really love, we must go beyond that with the grace of God and his love. . . .

There was a couple driving down the road.  it was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.  They were sitting far apart.  She said, "You know, when we were first married, we snuggled up close together." He just kept on driving and said, "I haven't moved."

God hasn't moved 'either', but if we move away, even just for a moment, we 'often' begin to look at others critically.  We 'sometimes' begin to feel that we have not been treated fairly.  But, if we "snuggle up" to God, stay close to Him, we will find it easy(ier) to love others - 'i.e.' overlook their faults and really love them.

In joy,

Andrea