We had some major flooding in Colorado recently.

…I mean major! Bridges washed out, houses taken with mud slides, creeks overflowing. The effects of the overwhelming rain were felt across the front range of the Rockies. Even in my house. We had a suspect stain begin appearing on the ceiling in our kitchen the night of the heavy rains. I told Chad, “I don’t remember that being there before today…”

Then the stain got bigger and bigger. Finally, Chad decided to make a hole in the ceiling so the drips could begin to fall freely into our house. (Sigh) We filled up three bowls of water and it just kept coming with the rain. Not very pleasant for the serenity of our kitchen. Even though the rain is gone now, the stain and the hole above our heads is calling out “FIX ME!”.  The effects of this intense storm are still here – and all over Colorado – weeks later.

What storm are you still cleaning up after? Life presents a lot of challenges and painful circumstances. After the wind dies down, there remains a process of recovery.  Healing and forgiveness. Communication and serving. If a relationship is strained, silence can be tempting, but it’s much more rewarding to recover a lost friendship than holding a grudge. Start talking to them and venture out into mending the broken places.

I marvel at Jesus’ words, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” {John 15:9-12}

Love is the key ingredient to fixing things. It might even take a little love for me to patch my kitchen ceiling. (I do love my little house. But that’s besides the point!) The love God has for us can even create wholeness in our own hearts after a storm. You’ve probably experienced this. He has a way of lifting the pain when we go to him in surrender and humility and tears. (Crying is a good relief wouldn’t you say?) God carries our burdens daily if we let Him. {Check out Psalm 68:19}

So, I am putting some love into my house this weekend. Where is God asking you to love today?

Elissa