A beautiful outlook

One of the things I have really been intentional about in my life is loving others - but in reality going deeper than that. I have been intentional about loving others out of respect for the people who love them.

I think when we start to love others with their loved ones in mind it changes the way we love and respect them. Why? When you treat someone with love, kindness, respect, and really care for them - a friendship like that is one that they are going to share and talk about with their parents or close friends.

I remember grabbing lunch with one of my friends dad's this past Spring and he told me that he really appreciates and respects people who love his kids and treat them with love, respect, and kindness.

Those are the things that we need to hear sometimes. When you hear comments like that - you know that you have made some really solid friends. Building up a group of really close friends like that is truly loving your neighbor as yourself and God loves that.

For example - one of the ways in which I love Rachel is treating in and caring for her in a way that her parents and family would appreciate. A lot of the things I say and do for her are out of love and respect for her parents. I love her family greatly too! Not just her.  We set really strict boundaries because I always want to be able to look her dad in the eyes and tell him that I am respecting his daughter greatly.

Loving Rachel a little extra because of the people around her has led to some amazing relationships. If I wasn't intentional about loving her in a way that was showing love to those around her too - who knows if I would be as close to her family and friends. I have a really good relationship with her family and some of her friends because I keep them in mind too.

It's a beautiful outlook when you live a life this way. It provides you with the opportunity to build a lot of relationships and love others. Her cousins have become my friends because of this love...they aren't just cousins.

Why did I write about this topic this morning?

It's all tied back to Boaz and Ruth. Naomi had told Ruth to go to the threshing floor to see Boaz and she was obedient. She went to him and slept at his feet and when she returned, Naomi asked her: "How did it go my daughter?" Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her and added, "He gave me these six measures of barely, saying, 'Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty handed.'" (Ruth 3:16)

I don't want the people I have a relationship with to ever leave a conversation or time spent together empty handed. I want to provide value to people. My hope is that the impact I have on the lives of people is brought back to their loved ones.

That impact comes from having meaningful conversations. Meaningful conversations provide value in our daily lives. Boaz had Ruth bring something of value back to Naomi so she didn't leave empty handed. Naomi was thankful that Boaz had treated her with love and kindness. Value comes from meaning.

I challenge you to find that beautiful outlook and live your lives in that way. I believe that a great reward will come from it. Both on earth and in heaven. On earth you will build more relationships and in heaven I can't even imagine what the reward will be like.

Love others with the intent of loving and respecting those who love them.