Beloved Community,
Grace and peace to you all as we enter the month of February.
Relationships with ourselves, with others, with our community, and with God; as healthy relationships are a cornerstone of living in Christ’s love.
And though the word love can bring up some warm, fuzzy, and tender emotions, love can also be hard sometimes. Like so many things in life and in faith, love also means holding things in tension – to cultivate a healthy and balanced approach to relationships.
And this kind of tension is reflected in Scripture; where we find a plethora of passages that shed light on what it means to love one another.
There is the popular reading from many weddings, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
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.”
And then there is the wisdom found in Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
The passage from 1 Corinthians reminds us that love is not just a feeling but an action rooted in kindness, patience, and forgiveness. Whereas the passage from Proverbs reminds us how we grow stronger when we support and challenge one another; highlighting the importance of accountability and encouragement in our relationships.
Both are necessary, and there is a time for both – like we hear in Ecclesiastes 3
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
As we journey through this month, let us continue to nurture our relationships. Let us remember how relationships are a gift, and a command from God. As we hear Jesus say in John 13:34-35
A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

This is not easy work; this is faithful work. Together we can support, challenge, and encourage one another. While at the same time we can also show grace, patience, and forgiveness. As healthy relationships are a cornerstone of living in Christ’s love.