Many times I have found out that a person or persons whom I thought were my friends did not really feel that friendly.
   I’m sure many of our readers have experienced the same thing.  People may think they are sparing ones feelings but, in fact, they will hurt more when the truth comes from another person.

   Many times, the problem is that we do not take the time to understand the other person.  There may be a reason for their actions.

   People think that it’s better to be nice to someone to their face and then talk about them when they are not there.  Gossip gets around.  It hurts.
   There is an old saying: “never judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes”.  When someone has been hurt for their entire life, they are likely to become anti-social, even grumpy or angry.  One who has not known love will behave in a manor that makes it hard to love them.
   After my son passed away, I talked with people at his church.  They said he always sat in the back, keeping to himself.  So they left him alone.  I told them: “all he wanted was for someone to come to him.  He was afraid to go where he might not be wanted”.
   If you have a problem with someone, tell them.  If they know that you care enough to be honest with them, they will try harder to fix the problem.  You may find there is no problem.  They just wanted to be loved.
   Lack of love is possibly the reason many turn to suicide and even murdering those who have hurt them.  Some people just never feel loved.  I find it difficult myself to feel loved.  My mother died when I was 18.  My father was an alcoholic and abusive.  I grew up doing everything for myself.  I call it survival mode.
   I have found many times someone has thought I was mad when it was just that I didn’t feel I belonged.  I would keep to myself or may have even been hurting at the time.
As Christians, we must be aware of people who need our love and attention.  These people may be hard to love.  Remember, we were hard to love but Jesus loved us enough to die for us.
   When we act like we care and don’t really care, this is really a lie.  If a person discovers dishonesty in someone they loved and thought loved them, they will hurt deeply.  I have been there.  You have lost their trust and thrown away any possibility of friendship and even witnessing Jesus to them.
  People become bitter and even grow to hate because of the way they are treated.  Mis-trust breeds mis-trust.  Anger breeds anger.  Love breeds love. 
You may think you are sparing someones’ feelings when you don’t tell them the truth.  You are not!
  My favorite scripture in the Bible is what I call “The eleventh commandment”.  I will and have quoted it often it is found in 2nd Peter and in the book of John.  It is the only time Jesus used the word “commandment”.  It is a good verse to live by.  John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.