Devotional

Loving Through Hurt

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?" -Matthew 5:44-46, NIV

A friend related that when she was growing up she had a black cat. She always named her cats by their color, but since she already had a black cat, when this one came along and had kittens, she called her “Mother-cat.” Most cats are aloof and independent. But not Mother-cat. She would even jump into her lap when called. Mother-cat had the gentlest, kindest, and most endearing personality she had ever seen in a pet.

One morning my friend went out onto the patio to pet her. At a touch Mother-cat hissed, reached out, and scratched my friend. She got mad and yelled at the pet until Mother-cat limped away. She had been hit by a car the night before, and her hip was dislocated.

My friend told me the Lord impressed her that morning. It was as though He spoke and said, “You watch, young lady. You’ll see people who snarl and scratch. But understand; they’ve been hurt. Look past the snarl and love the hurt.”

How can you look past hurt and love today?

Matthew