From the archives of Evelyn Roberts
Some people lose the love in their marriages or other relationships because they have a fuss or an argument, and they don’t do anything to fix the problem. Instead, they allow bitterness to spring up and stay inside them.
The Bible says that when strife comes in, it can open the door for every evil work (James 3:16). Some people get hurt over the smallest things because they allow hate to enter their hearts through strife. Then the tiniest problem begins to grow and grow until it’s completely out of proportion.
Once when Oral and I had a fuss, right in the middle of it we got so tickled that we couldn’t remember what we were fussing about in the first place. You see, the love we have for each other was already there. We weren’t going to give the seeds of discord a chance to get planted and grow.
Ephesians 4:31–32 NLT says: Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
I’m certainly not perfect. But when I find myself doing something for Oral that I feel I don’t have the time to do, I’ll say to myself, “I’m planting a seed in his life, and I’m expecting to receive a harvest from this.” I believe that if you can have that kind of attitude when you go out of your way to help someone else, not only are you sowing seeds of love and forgiveness into that person’s life, but you can expect to reap a harvest of forgiveness and unconditional love in your life!