We went to a very specials woman’s funeral today. There was a theme from everyone whom spoke of her. She always made you feel like family. When you left her presence, you left feeling valued and loved. She had a lot of people there celebrating the life in which she lived. Positively impacting all those that knew her. She definitely took to love others seriously, and held that sentiment close to her heart. I admire her for the life she lived and the impact of love that she gave. I love people, however, in my shyness, I tend to be quieter about it and to share it more in written form. I look at her and how she boldly loved, and I am inspired. To not be held back by my shyness, and sometimes awkwardness, but to love boldly and intentionally. I am learning that although I am polite, I cannot use my shyness, as an excuse to not show love more in action. I am working on this, as it is out of my element to do so. When I think of Jesus, I don’t see Him as being loud in His love, but bold, and filled with the action of it. God made us all different. Some incredibly extroverted, some of us more introverted. Though no matter our personality my friend, may we not let it hinder us from loving others boldly. When people left this very special woman, they felt loved. I imagine Jesus when He walked this earth, how much He left others feeling loved. Then I ask myself, “Am I leaving others feeling loved too? Am I leading with love?

Erin Fitts-Brower

Leading with love

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 16:14 NIV

Do everything in love.

Matthew 22:37-40 NIV

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”