Love Covers All
Right now, I am sitting cozy on the couch under my new blue blanket. I love a good blanket. Don’t you? My husband’s thermostat is about ten degrees hotter than the rest of the world, so I have a wicker basket in the living room with a collection of throws and quilts. When friends come over, all the women in the group end up wrapped up in something warm to prevent frost bite from setting in during our fellowship time. “Pass a blanket” is a phrase heard often at my house.
So, as I nest here all bundled up and tucked in under my protective cover, I realized I had to write this post. I turned to Bible Gateway and started reading through Proverbs in The Message — because a little wisdom is thought provoking, and Eugene Peterson’s translation is often my bloggy muse. When I arrived at chapter 10, I hit pay dirt right at verse 12:
Hatred starts fights,
but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.
Really, God? I need to take my comfy blanket and lay it over the nasty people who pick fights for no reason? I’d rather stay on the couch and hoard the goodness. You mean I have to extend cordiality to the disagreeable?
Love covers all, my daughter.
oh yeah … let’s grab the quilts … ’cause He so graciously extended that lavish love toward us, when we were most disagreeable.
I must admit that I prefer to grab for a bat… I am so thankful that He does not, and I am praying that he will help me to be more gracious.
Lyli – You sure did hit paydirt on this one! Great post! Blankets are a necessity while sitting in my home for most of us 🙂 The application is so powerful. We can be a quilt of love, His love. May we remember how He has covered us time and time again. May we be willing to extend a quilt of love to others. And this morning, I just love your thoughts. Thank you for sharing them.
Have a great Thurs.!
I agree, Joan. I was familiar with this verse in the NIV, but reading it in this translation has given it new meaning for me.
I cannot lie .. I usually avoid bickering people. I feel convicted after reading your article to show them love instead of avoidance … Thanks, Lyli!
Jerralea, community is so hard, but this verse is really helping me to see how God calls me to be bridge builder (rather than hiding under the bridge!) 🙂
I think this is really powerful — love pulls a quilt over the bickering. I need to put this into practice with my youngest daughter.
Yes, this verse is a good verse to apply with our families — I find it hardest to extend love to a bickering relative.. it’s easier to be graceful with people I don’t live with. 🙂
“Pass a blanket.” That sounds so cozy and welcoming. I take my snuggie with me on trips these days so I can stay warm in the truck with my hubby. 🙂 It’s an act of love for him and for me.
I’m the one who freezes everyone out at our house – and we have a basket of blankets, too. You know what? Boys love blankets!!!! – and my two younget bickering is driving me nuts!!!! I am going to be quoting you to them today: “Love pulls a blanket over bickering” – LOVE IT!
Maryleigh, I shared your comment with my husband so that he would know he has a sisterly counterpart. He is also a big lover of fans — we have one in every room.
Hope this verse is welcomed into the hearts of your boys. Hugs
Lyli,
What a great image…He covers us with His love then He allows us to cover others…Thank you 🙂
Dolly, your wording reminds me that this is a privilege… that He allows us to be used in this way. I need to stop looking at it as a duty, and see it as delight.
What a simple yet powerful post. I am one to always have a blanket on hand but have never applied my covering to scripture quite like that. Very thought provoking! Thanks, Lyli and blessings to you. I think I am linking up with you for the first time or at least the first time in a long time. Love, Rachael
Rachael, it’s so lovely to have you here!
I love that visual image. I need a few quilts pulled over the bickering in my house! 🙂
This ties into your I Cor 13 study, too. Right? I just realized that connection with what you have been studying and writing about. 🙂
Lyli, Thanks for the rich visual. After a week of having and tending to those with influenza I am well practiced in the art of pulling a quilt up and over and tucking it in. I guess it’s a skill I need to keep up.
Natalie, I hope you and yours are past the influenza season by now. I had a co-worker who had it — very scary.
I have a blue blanket too :). Now I’m snuggling deeper after reading your words …
I’ve started collecting blue blankets since I got married — the decor of the house is mostly brown and blue hues.
Praise God that love covers a multitude of sins! Thanks for hosting & God bless!
Amen, sister! 🙂
How did I miss this? Well I’m glad I did not completely miss it. I take a blanket with me just about every where I go. I’m always cold. 🙂 Love covers all. Good wisdom here, Lyli. It is something to think about. We are to extend that hand of love to everyone but it isn’t always easy is it?
I’ve been struggling to keep up lately and have missed you. Please know I’m SO grateful for our friendship in this lovely blogging world.
{Hugs}
Did I forget to link up? I linked it up again this week just in case. Life has been a bit crazy this week (as you can tell since I am replying to this comment two weeks later!).
I am hoping to be back in the saddle now… I will be popping by more often, I promise! 🙂
I like quilts too, especially the style in your picture. Love does cover a multitude of sins.
I love the patchwork quilts — such a picture of God’s grace, really. He stitches us back together and makes something beautiful out of our lives.