Love begins with you (and me). 

Everyday, everytime, under all circumstances, no exceptions, you (and I) get to decide what you (and I) will bring to every, yes, every, interaction.

Yes, this one, right here, right now at Wimpy, the bank, with my sons, with your daughter, at this busy traffic intersection. 

We have a question we are answering with our behavior 24/7/365: Will you (and I) be agents of love and forgiveness and long-suffering, or will you (and I) settle for the usual combative or irritable or unloving behaviors that seem to come so naturally and easily to so many?

In the heat of the moment – the bad traffic, the wait at the bank, the poor service in the restaurant when you are hungry, whatever – does not make you (or me) unloving or unkind, it reveals who we are. 

Challenging circumstances expose, they do not cause. 

They reveal. 

Love and loving responses take planning, require decisions long before decisions have to be made or require or evoke a response. 

Love and forgiveness can only come from you (and me) if love and forgiveness are living within you (and me) already.

What’s within you (and me), will come pouring out, no matter what the circumstances.