“The pale flamingos are ugly, they said.”

Not true. The pale flamingos are the most beautiful. And here’s why…

When they become a parent, that radiant vibrant pink fades to a pale blush and at times even white. But make no mistake. Its is not because it is broken. It is because it is giving. “Flamingos don’t lose their color…

…they pour it out.”

“Bit by bit, they offer the pigments that once painted their feathers to nourish their young. They create life, and in doing so, they sacrifice some of the brilliance that once defined them.

But the fading is not forever.

When the season of giving subsides, when the little one no longer needs every ounce, the color returns. Not all at once, but steadily and restored.

So don’t listen to “them”, the pale colored flamingo is the most beautiful one there is.”

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What a beautiful picture of parental and sacrificial love. And though it pales in comparison to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, it is quite a representation of love being poured out that is given to something or someone else.

Romans 12:10 says “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another”.

Preferring another over yourself. That’s a tall order. Think about that for a second. And then grasp what it entails. It’s not a simple task for our fleshly natures. But it’s possible when we’re yielded to the One Who did just that. He gave Himself sacrificually.

So, let me ask…

What are we pouring out…

Just as that mama flamingo pours every ounce of herself into her babies, what are we pouring into others sacrificially? And as always…I’m asking myself the same. Sacrifice is just that. It’s a giving and surrendering. And when at opposite ends with others, it is an abandonment of negative reactions, anger, and sometimes disgust when we disagree or when we don’t see eye to eye. It’s not always easy. Especially in our current culture.

The Bible tells us to love and to pour out truth and light to others. But what happens inside of us when it’s rejected and not received? And worse, what ensues when things or situations are false or so misrepresented that people mistakenly think they’re right? It can cause a less than desirable response on our part. Well let me not speak for you but I’ll just talk for myself. If I’m being honest, I’ve become quite indignant at times and feel, “well, have it your way and see how you fare!”

WRONG RESPONSE, TANYA.

I’ve failed miserably at times in loving others who can make it so dang hard to love. We all have fallen into the hard to love place at some point. You know the spot. Indignant, proud, and offensive. Whatever the adjectives, we have all fallen short. And that’s exactly why we all need a Savior, the Only Perfect One. He loves perfectly and calls us to love. Not just when it’s easy and people are lovely. But more importantly when’s it hard and they can be ugly. When we agree, when we disagree, and even when others hate us, it’s a must. And even more-so, if you’re a Christian, it’s not a choice. It’s a command.

Take for example, the latest traumatic experience that we just witnessed. The murdering of an innocent man. And then… the celebrating that ensued. Or worse….the excusing and pointing fingers on how he must have caused this with his hurtful words. I can’t even fathom that celebrating is in the same breath as someone’s murder but here we are. I think we need to check ourselves if the response of anyone’s murder has us judging the victim and somehow justifying his demise.

As of late, I often ask myself, what has happened to the human race? And if you’re a Christian who does not speak God’s truth into others, then I think an inner revival is necessary. Again, talking to me. Many will say that truth words can be hateful, and not loving. My friends, it is quite the opposite. When you love someone, you tell them the truth. And say what you want, but people CRAVE it. Sometimes unknowingly. They seek something real and concrete. Not an anything goes world. And they need Jesus! We all do. It is the end and ultimate goal.

It’s a pouring…

It’s a dousing of the Spirit. You see, most are looking at the temporal. The here, the now, the political game, blah, blah, blah. So tiresome, frankly. And yes, we need to be focused on our world and striving to make it a better place but at what cost. Instead of looking “left” and “right”, I encourage you to look vertically. Look up! When we do, we can hope to reach others across the great divide, which by the way is widening by the second. I desire to bring truth that I know is unquestionably true. But I often think why are so many resistant to the greatest Love?

But pouring love shouldn’t be based on other’s responses or their resistance . It shouldn’t be a drizzling when people kind of agree with us, or a gushing when they really agree us. It should be a constant flow no matter what. A pouring stream of love reflecting Jesus. The perfect man. He came and was hated by many. He was rejected, despised, spit upon, and ultimately crucified. For you, for me.

And He certainly didn’t have my imperfect reaction. Through it all, He loved greater and it is because of that unconditional love that He sacrificed Himself for humankind. And yet, people still reject Him.

The teeming truth…

And here it comes. Candor never promised to coddle. So here we go. It’s a hard pill to swallow when Christian’s who know and say they believe His undeniable word, abandon that very truth. The unbelievers are suppose to be resistant and unwilling. But believers! I’m speaking to you. It’s time for a shift. If you say you’re a believer and stand for sin, you need to check yourself. And tolerance is part of standing for sin. You can disagree and even dislike me, but it needs to be said. The world cannot change when we have a mamby pamby church. And when I say church, I mean Christians. And it’s not religion, it’s relationship. It’s love, it’s truth, and due to both, captives are set free.

So yeah, in our imperfect humanity, it can be really tough to love some well. And if it’s not a difficulty for you, then “good on you” as the Aussies would say. But for me, it can be a challenge. But it’s the very thing we need to do. Because you see, if people are applauding and cheering after a murder of another person, and worse rejecting Jesus’ truth, then they need to be poured into the most! SO LET’S FLOOD OTHERS WITH L-I-G-H-T, love in glorious heavenly truth. You can change someone’s life and more importantly, their eternity.

The message is simple…

Love God. Love others. Reach others for God. All while remembering that always agreeing with others and being politically polite and correct won’t reach the lost but prayer, coupled with love in truth, will! Real sacrificial love is never wasted, so let’s pour it out.

God Bless!

Tanya

(part of the above flamingo intro was my own content and part was taken from a post by Erika Kirk – the quotes showcase which was original and which was taken. The original author of the quotes is unknown)

(*Disclaimer – No AI was used in the writing of this blog)