[1 Corinthians 13:3-5]

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude…”

TRUTH TO BELIEVE:
 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
   my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him
   and he will bring justice to the nations.
 He will not shout or cry out,
   or raise his voice in the streets.
 A bruised reed he will not break,
   and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
   In his law the islands will put their hope.”  Isaiah 42:1-4, NIV

When someone cuts me off in traffic I want to scream awful things at the driver.
When a salesperson takes something out of my hands with a curt, “excuse me” and then hands it to another customer, everything inside of me wants to give her a piece of my passive-aggressive mind.
When my husband continues to ask questions that I don’t know the answer to I want to answer sarcastically.
When someone is late to a meeting and hasn’t bothered to call I want to put them in their place.
When I’m in a hurry I don’t really feel like holding the door open for the person playing with their phone.
Sometimes I just want to keep talking on the phone while I check out at the store.
Sometimes I desperately avoid making eye contact with someone because I don’t want to talk.

There are many ways and opportunities to behave rudely, but here’s the thing: love avoids all of those options.

When we act out of love rudeness isn’t an option.  No matter the frustration, love grants the power to erase rudeness.

HOPE TO CLAIM:
“In contrast [to rudeness], love slows down to acknowledge the worth of others. Love sees the opportunity that interruptions can give to help others and to be of service to them. Love puts yourself in the position of those who serve you. Love tips generously. Love is appreciative of what others do for you.” –Ted Schroeder

One of the antonyms of rude is actually kind.  Makes sense, doesn’t it?  If love isn’t rude, then it’s kind.

CHALLENGE TO EMBRACE:
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  Mark 6:31, NIV

Oftentimes rudeness seeps out when we are sleep-deprived or stressed.  Take time this morning to go off by yourself and get some rest.

Following,
Ginger

Advent Resource: “Song of the Stars” by Sally Lloyd-Jones GIVEAWAY information right HERE! (Entry to the drawing closes on Thursday night, December 8^th.)