Love Your Loved Ones

<p>Amos was an overbearing extrovert and Danny was a loner wracked with self-doubt. Somehow these eccentric geniuses became best friends. They spent a decade laughing and learning together. One day their work would receive a Nobel Prize. But Danny tired of Amos&rsquo;s self-centered ways and told him they were no longer friends.</p> <p>Three days later, Amos called with terrible news. Doctors had found cancer and given him six months to live. Danny&rsquo;s heart broke. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re friends,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;whatever you think we are.&rdquo;</p> <p>Paul was a hard-nosed visionary and Barnabas a soft-hearted encourager. The Spirit put them together and sent them on a missionary journey (Acts 13:2&ndash;3). They preached and started churches, until their disagreement over Mark&rsquo;s desertion. Barnabas wanted to give Mark a second chance. Paul said he could no longer be trusted. So they split up (15:36&ndash;41).</p> <p>Paul eventually forgave Mark. He closed three letters with greetings from or commendations for him (Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24). We don&rsquo;t know what happened with Barnabas. Did he live long enough to be reconciled with Paul in this life? I hope so.</p> <p>Whatever your situation today, try to reach out to those with whom you may have had a falling out. Now is the time to show and tell them how much you love them.</p>