Loyalty Lesson Learned

As I was sitting in church today I was pondering upon the word loyalty.  What is loyalty?  Am I loyal to the Lord, to my husband and to my family?  These thoughts were rushing through my mind as I sat quietly on the pew, reflecting.

Loyalty: A feeling or attitude of devoted attachment and affection, a feeling of faithfulness or allegiance.

Loyalty to The Lord

While pondering I was reminded of an article that I read not to long ago entitled “The First Great Commandment” written by Jeffery R. Holland. 

In the article he writes about the experience of Christ disciples after His death on the Sea of Galilee..

“Jesus said to His senior Apostle, “Peter, do you love me more than you love all this?” Peter said, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” The Savior responds to that reply but continues to look into the eyes of His disciple and says again, “Peter, do you love me?” Undoubtedly confused a bit by the repetition of the question, the great fisherman answers a second time, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” The Savior again gives a brief response, but with relentless scrutiny He asks for the third time, “Peter, do you love me?” By now surely Peter is feeling truly uncomfortable. Perhaps there is in his heart the memory of only a few days earlier when he had been asked another question three times and he had answered equally emphatically—but in the negative. Or perhaps he began to wonder if he misunderstood the Master Teacher’s question. Or perhaps he was searching his heart; seeking honest confirmation of the answer he had given so readily, almost automatically. Whatever his feelings, Peter said for the third time, “Lord, … thou knowest that I love thee.”

To which Jesus responded (and here again I acknowledge my non-scriptural elaboration), perhaps saying something like: “Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me.”

 “I am not certain just what our experience will be on Judgment Day, but I will be very surprised if at some point in that conversation, God does not ask us exactly what Christ Peter: “Did you love me?” I think He will want to know if in our very mortal, very inadequate, and sometimes childish grasp of things, did we at least understand one commandment, the first and greatest commandment of them all—“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind.” And if at such a moment we can stammer out, “Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee,” then He may remind us that the crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty.”

The Lord demands and expects our loyalty, not just on Sunday but every day.  What does it mean to be a Christian?  What does it mean to be loyal to Him?

It means to be like Christ, love Christ – be loyal to Him and His teachings.  Standing for truth and righteousness everyday even in the face of opposition.

I am a Christian and I love the Lord and I will always be loyal to Him that has given me life.

Loyalty to my husband and family:

I have learned over the last few years that loyalty to your spouse and family requires work…sometimes that work is exhausting, time consuming and never ending. 

If I use a synonym for the word loyalty I might use fidelity, which implies the unfailing fulfillment of one's duties and obligations and strict adherence to vows or promises.

As a wife and mother I feel an obligation to fulfill my duties whether or not I am thanked, rewarded, or acknowledged for accomplishing all that lies before me.  At times I feel like I am a heart surgeon, psychologist, professor, referee, chef, maid, activities coordinator, executive assistant and attitude adjuster! That requires planning and work…but I have come to believe in the words of Woodrow Wilson, “Loyalty means nothing unless it has at its heart the absolute principle of self-sacrifice.”  

Being a GOOD wife and mother means that you live the principle of self-sacrifice.  It means living a Christ like life.  It is the giving of your self so others might enjoy life and be happy.  The lesson that I have learned is that by being loyal and giving of myself I am the one that has learned to love life.  I am the one that receives the blessing of peace and Joy. 

I am a wife and mother and I love my family.  I will always be loyal to those that enrich my life.  It is hard work and yet the rewards and blessing are so great.

Loyalty Lesson Learned !!