By Association
There is a woman in my life I find difficult to love.
When she comes to mind, I either cringe or feel nothing.
Yet I have witnessed that her husband, whom I love, loves her truly.
So I ponder what about her he knows, he sees,
he loves that I don’t.
Perhaps how she was when they dated,
perhaps what she whispers in his ear,
perhaps how they need each other…
So perhaps someday I will ask him to tell me,
to teach me, that this void may be filled.
But then too there are many others near and far
that I find difficult to love, people whom God adores…
So perhaps someday I will ask God to tell me,
to teach me, that my purpose may be fulfilled.
Reflection and Prayer
Ask God to bring to your awareness someone who annoys you or who has hurt (or continues to hurt) you. Then ask God to grace you with understanding and empathy for why this person acts as they do, keeping in mind that people choose what they perceive to be good and that people often act out of their woundedness or unfreedoms. Then invite Jesus into this prayer and let him talk you through what a loving response would be. End your time by allowing Jesus to pray for both you and this other person.