Are You Tooky?

Love does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered. (1 Corinthians 13:5)


Have you ever found yourself suddenly sidetracked by little offenses?

Recently, when I was on the phone with a friend, I found myself suddenly feeling offended by little things she was saying. Now that I think about it and try to recall the conversation, I don't even remember what she said that bothered me so. But suddenly every little thing she said seemed to insult me, wound me, cause me to question.

I was being tooky.

And before I knew it I'd popped off and said something defensive.

I could tell she was shocked. Where had that come from?

It came from my need to self preserve. It came from ultra-sensitivity.  And it was ugly.

The Bible tells us that love does not get offended easily. Love is not "sensitive" and tooky.

That means that love also does not over analyze, over think the things said. Love does not look for the other person to trip up on their words and then point an accusing finger. Love does not have its feelings hurt easily. Love does not piece together things said or done here and there to build some sort of case against the other person. Love does not assume the motives of the other person. Love does not read into things.

Have you ever been guilty of any of those things? Obviously I have. But the Lord has reprimanded me for such unloving behavior. And He's shown me that reacting with ultra-sensitivity is not only damaging to my relationships, but it's a sin. Being overly sensitive and easily offended puts other people on edge, but it also puts me first. That is not godly behavior.

How can we keep from being easily offended and sensitive? Here are a few things the Lord has shown me recently that have helped me to love more easily:

Have you allowed little things - words spoken carelessly, facial expressions, body language, words not spoken - to offend you recently? I encourage you to read over 1 Corinthians 13 and approach the wounded relationship from a renewed desire to love well. Let me know what you think!

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