After running her over, my mom scooped her up and put her in my lap to drive to the vet. I remember my mom crying while driving and me determined to comfort that little dog. Trying my best to help her. And she bit me. 

This memory came to mind when someone wounded me with her words. At first, I was taken aback. Then I was mad. And finally sad. So sad for this someone I love. She’s going through a painful time and she hurt me because she’s hurting. 

Sometimes the elephant in the room is a part of us. A part of our relationships. And it doesn’t help to ignore it. Everyone involved knows the elephant. 

When our daughters were young, the circus came to town. I had never seen a real circus and decided to take Cami and Lacy. It was a one elephant show in a tent set up in a high school parking lot. And that day the elephant was in a bad mood. It wouldn’t do anything. Not one trick. You could’ve heard a pin drop in that tent. Finally the elephant pooped. That was it. A pile of dung about three feet tall. I’d spent forty dollars on my ticket alone, don’t remember how much the girls’ tickets cost, but talk about not meeting my expectations. Whenever I see a circus tent today, I remember that afternoon with the elephant.  

“Expectation is the root of all heartache,” said William Shakespeare.

I’ve come to the realization the expectations I hold in this relationship need to be released. Sometimes love bites. Sometimes the elephant poops. But bigger than this is God’s eternal perspective. Sometimes we fail each other and fail miserably. This may surprise us, but it doesn’t surprise Jesus. He knows how fragile we humans are. And how when we are wounded, we can wound others. Like my mom’s little poodle, we bite because we’re hurting.

The disciple Peter knew about failing someone he loved. He denied Jesus three times. But once Jesus reinstated Peter with his love, Peter became the rock. After this, Peter said, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” 1 Peter 4:8.

So how do we cover sin with love? The Bible says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud” 1 Corinthians 13:4.

James 5:20 says: “Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

So love does not ignore sin. Love does not accept sin. Love confronts sin patiently, in a kind and gentle manner, to turn those we love away from sin.

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart” 1 Peter 1:22. Peter is saying here get your heart straight by obeying the truth of the Word of God so you can sincerely love each other.

We cannot sincerely love if we are not obeying God’s Word, the Bible. We must be rooted in the truth, obeying Jesus, and turning away from sin, before we can deeply love.