By Cyndi
There’s a friend I surf with sometimes who’s a real hoot. She has a pretty loud and boisterous personality, yelling at missed waves, cheering on others for nice rides, and is overall very animated out in the lineup. It’s always fun surfing with her, yet, I can feel something behind all of that “noise” she makes. I believeshe’s looking for love and acceptance. And mercifully, I think she receives it within our little surfing community.
But aren’t we all looking for that love and acceptance? Don’t we all want to feel worthy of being loved? Received just as we are by others?
Not everyone is as accepting and caring as our gang in the water. People can be rude, harsh, even downright mean sometimes. I’ve watched a man whip into a parking place before the lady who was patiently waiting for the person to pull out of it could pull in. I’ve also seen a person standing in line at the post office, complaining the whole time about the wait and the poor service, just fussing to everyone. She was so negative and judgmental.
It’s very easy to judge the people around us without any thought of what they may be going through or their situations.
Fortunately, we have Someone who doesn’t judge us but loves us unconditionally. Father God accepts me just the way I am, faults and all. I don’t have to prove myself to anyone or any group that I’m worthy of acceptance and love because I know I’m a beloved daughter of the King.
Jer. 31: 3 is one of my favorite verses. It says He has loved me with an “everlasting love.” That’s a never-ending love; a love that’s always there in every place and every situation. And because I know this, it’s my joy to receive this love and give it away to others — like my friend.
I don’t believe my friend knows God, but I’m hoping as I love and accept her as I am loved and accepted by my Father, that she’ll come to know Him too. I know she’s worthy of the same love that I’ve been given, so I’ll continue hooting for her waves and hanging out with her in the water, and pray for her to accept the One who accepts her just as she is.
Have you got any friends looking for acceptance?