The Cherry Vine has taken on spilling the sauce on nuggets of love, hate, trust, grief, judgment, equality, and quite a few other, hopefully palatable subjects. Of late, clarity has been on the platter, however, my spirit has now taken on a new flavor of this figurative fruity vine’s seeds…
Loyalty. It is how we act or respond, based on who a person is, what they mean to us or what they may have done for us, right? It’s that thing that we all expect. Question is, is it something that we, by default, give in return? Our expectation of it emits of entitlement. If we’re so entitled, why is it that we miss the mark in the full cyclic return of it–loyalty?? Why are we not loyal to that cause? We, oftentimes shamelessly, only enjoy the experience of being the recipient, and that’s so not fair! Even worse, it seems that true loyalty is becoming extinct!
Heavy subject, so in a phase of “C-L-A-R-I-T-Y”, I’m checking Mr. Google for a clear definition. Wow, I’m not even loyal to my own interpretation of the word. 😉 Here’s what I found…Loyalty is, “the quality of being loyal to someone or something; a strong feeling of support or allegiance.” The noun is synonymous with some pretty powerful words like allegiance, faithfulness, obedience, homage, devotion; steadfastness, true-heartedness, dependability, reliability, trustworthiness, duty, dedication, and yes, commitment! What a profound laundry list of words? So, how does this assortment possibly correlate to the day-to-day display of loyalty? As my pastor often says, “Let me make it live for you…” You might say:
I’m loyal, so . . .
I defend your honor.
I don’t side with your enemies.
I don’t participate in or enjoy the “Dark Shadows” episodes of your life.
I don’t fancy people playing dirty with your emotions or your mind.
I know and respect my boundaries—-ALL of them!
I’m not going to call you my sister/brother, and not uphold the responsibilities of the relationship.
when someone offends you, I feel offended too.
you can trust me with your heart and your most intimate secrets.
I’m not going to desert you–unless your actions warrant a step-off performance.
your tears and your pain become mine.
I’m here for you in every way that matters— Your overall well-being is important to me.
I recognize my duty as your true friend, supporter or partner–you can count on me!
because you are family.
because, like me, you are God’s child, trying to get better each day.
To further speak life into the personal realm of loyalty, I sought out the sentiments of a few special people who may have experienced the ugliness of disloyalty. Their completion of the aforementioned sentence speaks volumes! They responded:
I’m loyal, so…
why does it feel so one-sided at times?
be careful.
you can expect my faithfulness and devotion!.. expect. There is an expectation if I declare to be loyal.
that I may honor Gods’ word and do as I would want others to do unto me.
are You, Blessed child of God. Spend time in the very Presence of our Almighty God. Pray, Praise, and Worship with me to the Royal, LOYAL One, the “I Am”.
As we travel on the road to ‘better’, improving the delivery and the art of loyalty should be in tow for the ride. It means so much more than the glow of a smile, dressed in a uniform, and the religious practice of an everyday conversation. Those things don’t validate a person’s loyalty to you. Be reminded of the words that define what it truly means, all of which are very powerful! They shouldn’t be substituted with our sometimes skewed view, which can be of convenience because of our flawed behaviors.
I’m committed and loyal to my Purpose to express, in an effort to uplift, to empower and to grow–myself and others. Therefore, in being obedient, I’ve shared the raw, uncut words of my heart. Why? If you haven’t experienced the sour grapes; the heart-wrenching disappointment of disloyalty, live a little longer! When it raises its ugly head, be sure to ask God to guide your heart and your response. He has the last word! Trust Him! He is the epitome of LOYALTY, as evidenced in many scriptures in the Bible. However, in researching, these touched me in a special way; these made my soul feel the warmth of God’s showcase of love and loyalty; these resonated deeply with the spirit of my “Amen!”
~ “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” ~ Matthew 28:20
~ “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” ~ Deuteronomy 7:9
~ “But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” ~ Ruth 1:16
Closing with one of my favorite scriptures— It has always humbled me, and reminds me of God’s unconditional loyalty to me, His unworthy child….
~ “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” ~ Psalms 139: 7-10
Amen!
Peace and Blessings, Lisa B