by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

1 Corinthians 13:4,5
Love is patient, love is kind...does not take into account a wrong suffered.

Do you have a family member who resists love, or even the Lord? Nina Cameron, who assisted me one year with my sixth-grade Sunday School class, told the class a story I'd like to share with you.

She and her daughter met a woman in a nursing home who was known as hard to get along with. Most of the time she spent complaining about the nurses, food, roommates, just about anything she could think of.

"She didn't like anything about us," Nina said, "right down to my name. For some reason she decided to call me Luke." Trying to find some way to reach her, Nina finally asked, "Isn't there anything you like?"

The lady looked up briefly and mumbled, "I like butterscotch candy and I like to draw." And sure enough the old lady had quite a talent, although her eyesight was so poor she could rarely finish a drawing.

Nina asked her if she would like for her to bring the Bible and read to her. But she replied, "Luke, I don't like that religious stuff, and I don't want to hear anything about it again."

Eventually the woman contracted cancer, and Nina could see she was dying. She hadn't spoken with her son in years, so Nina called him. Nina breathed a prayer for the Holy Spirit to penetrate through all past pain, and he finally broke down. "Lady," he said, "I don't know who you are, but I love my mother."

He didn't have the money to come to see her, so Nina purchased a plane ticket. Over the next few days, she had the pleasure of seeing a mother reconcile with her son. And the next time Nina came to the nursing home, the woman had a peaceful look on her face. She looked up and said, "Luke, I love you. I want you to bring that Bible when you come back, and read it to me."

Prayer:

That the love of God that penetrates people's hearts will also characterize you own ability to love the unlovable with perseverance.

Discuss: Do you know someone who resists love? Are there relationships in your life that need to experience healing? What steps have you taken to bring this about?

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