Love That Ain’t Just Talk
Well, now, I do declare, Butterbean. You jus’ gotta’ be ‘a-lettin’ me git to easin’ youon into this real easy, like a big ol’ turtle ‘a-haulin’ itself onto a mossy log after a long night o’ mindin’ its own business. I was out ‘a-settin’ on the back porch this here mornin’, ‘a-watchin’ a nosy lil’ ol’ raccoon ‘a-tryin’ to be ‘a-bossin’ ‘round a lil’ pair of mallard ducks that clearly weren’t ‘a-wantin’ to be ‘a-takin’ applications for leadership. That there silly lil’ ol’ scene done got me to thinkin’ ‘bout how folks can git ta’ struttin’ ‘round ‘a-claimin’ thangs they don’t actually live that there way. And that there’s ‘zactly why 1 John 4:20-21 hits harder than a rooster ‘a-crowin’ right in your ear. “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar.” That there glarin’ truth done sneaks into your heart quieter than an ol’ bobcat ‘a-slippin’ through the tall grass.
Now, my stars, Butterbean, when I first done gave my life to Jesus, some o’ that there real bitterness started ‘a-fallin’ off me like some o’ them loose feathers on a moulty hen. I’d been ‘a-carryin’ anger for so long that it done felt like a lil’ ol’ creature I’d done been ‘a-keepin’ for a pet, an’ I’d done named it and was a’-feedin’ it, too. But the Lord’s good love done got ta’ comin’ on in, and it done started ‘a-sweepin’ out the dirty corners of my heart. If’n we’re ‘a-claimin’ to be lovin’ God, but we’re still ‘a-holdin’ some hard grudges that’r tighter than a lil’ ol’ squirrel ‘a-hangin’ onto a pecan, somethin’ is real wrong in our spiritual wirin’.
Paul is ‘a-tellin’ us in Romans 12:9-10 that we should really be lovin’ folks, not just pretendin’ to be ‘a-doin’ it. That there done means more than smilin’ at church and avoidin’ the folks who done rubbed us the wrong way. It done means mendin’ fences, pullin’ weeds of resentment, and lettin’ God soften the soil of our hearts, so’s our love for others can actually git to growin’.
Maybe someone has done wronged you. Maybe they done hurt you real bad, lots deeper than a prickly briar scratch on bare legs. But holdin’ onto bitterness will be ‘a-chewin’ you up faster than some o’ them lil’ ol’ termites ‘a-eatin’ away inside an old barn beam. It’ll be ‘a-chokin’ your joy away, ‘a-blockin’ your prayers, and ‘a-gummin’ up your worship like sticky, cold gravy. God done says that we done be ‘a-needin’ to be ‘a-handin’ it over to Him. We’ve gotta’ be ‘a-lettin’ Him deal with that there justice part. Your job, then, is to be lovin’, forgivin’, and ‘a-lettin’ Him be ‘a-handlin’ the real heavy liftin’ parts.
There jes’ ain’t no room for that there hatred, bitterness, or prejudice in the lil’ ol’ heart of a real, sho’-nuff child of God. He done is ‘a-wantin’ our love to be real honest, warm, and without hypocrisy. That there kind o’ love done really changes families, churches, and even whole communities.
Father, be ‘a-helpin’ me to be ‘a-lettin’ go of bitterness that done clings to me like real sharp, sticker burrs on a hound dog. Be ‘a-teachin’ me to be ‘a-lovin’ the way You done be ‘a-lovin’ us, be forgivin’ the way You done be forgivin’ us, and ‘a-walkin’ in peace instead of anger. Be ‘a-cleanin’ out anything in my heart that done keeps me from lovin’ other folks well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now, bless my boots, Butterbean, as you step off’n this here back porch an’ on into your day, you jes’ got to be ‘a-keepin’ in mind that hatred done shrivels up the soul like a tomato plant in a drought, but real love done grows real strong like a tall cedar tree with real deep roots. You got ta’ be ‘a-lettin’ God be ‘a-pullin’ them there weeds, be ‘a-softenin’ the soil, and ‘a-teachin’ your heart to git ta’ bloomin’ real good agin’.
With joy,
Gwen
