Day 25: Faithful

faithful

1.strict or thorough in the performance of duty

2.true to one's word, promises, vows, etc.

3.steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant

4.reliable, trusted, or believed.

5. adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate

There's a lot to live up to in the word faithful; and as if that wasn't hard enough, we are held to that standard in more than just one area of our life.  I am expected to be, and I expect myself to be, a faithful wife, friend, daughter, sister, co-worker, confidant, mentor, teacher, volunteer, Christian...it takes a lot of time and effort, and it can be exhausting.  With faithfulness comes sacrifice and selflessness, two conscious choices that are extremely difficult to make when wrestling against one's own wants and interests.  But the rewards for faithfulness can be great - respect, honor, love...

Even though we all struggle with faithfulness in one area of our lives or another, it doesn't stop us from being utterly devastated when someone is unfaithful to us.  Regardless of our capability to empathize, we relent our emotions to anger or sadness.  From even just the smallest transgressions we question our relationships - on days when the sound of treats shaking in a box is the only thing that brings Abby home (after I've called her name for what seems like an eternity, ahem, yesterday) I question whether she loves me or just the food I provide her! 

How amazing is it then that God offers love and forgiveness regardless of our wavering faithfulness!  

Ephesians 2

⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.