It is love if it is easy to care for others, it is charity when we love those it is hard to do so.

When reading the scriptures with my family the other night we got to talking about the differences between love and charity. Because, all in all, charity is the pure LOVE of Christ. But how do we get it? Honestly, I have no idea. Everyone comes with their luggage, everyone has things that they carry with them that can hinder a relationship, or help. It is up to us to look past it, and love them either way. I think that right there, is on its way to charity, but lets throw in this scenario:
Your family has been struggling to get buy, but this man in your neighborhood has asked your parents to invest a lot of their nest in his business, and promises a rewarding return. When your parents, a little reluctantly, agree to invest, things seem to be doing good. After a while your parents invest more and more in this mans company, and then out of the blue. You see your neighbor on the news right next to a caption of "Ponzy scheme Unveiled". Your family loses everything, has to move, and start over. This man goes to jail, and years later, when he is released you run into him in the grocery store. What do you do?
PAUSE!
So lets think about this. He ruined your life, and didn't even manage to send a thank you card, or an apology, in your mind, this man is going to hell. And yet charity, what would the charitable thing be?
A. Walk up to this man, tell him that you love him, and invite him over for dinner?
Honestly, maybe some of you are thinking that would be the thing to do. But I think that option B would work best for everyone.
B. Saying hi, if he engages in a conversation with you allow small talk, and let him know that there are no hard feelings. End it there. Don't pursue him, but dont persecute him.
This may not seem as nice, but you know what I feel charity really is? I think charity is loving someone on a level of ignorance. Loving them, despite what they have done, but ignoring it because it is not your right. You don't need to love everyone like you love your family or boyfriend, I don't think thats whay Christ intended. You know when you are talking about that one person in one of your classes who always makes you laugh, but you know what he does on the weekend is less than pretty? And yet you and your friends exclaim that you "love" him. I think that is charity. Except for the fact that not everyone has a redeaming quality to make themselves likable. I hope I am making sense. But for this sad little man who spent his last few years in jail, contemplating his actions, and may not be fully changed, but realizes the pain he has caused, dont you think that it is charity to silently forgive him, and put behind you. Notice I did not say forget. Because forgetting means no rememberance of, and when we do that, we can open ourselves up to the same hurt as before. So we put it past us. My brain is a jumbled mess, and this is a complex thing for me to wrap my head around, maybe I am behind everyone else. I have some forgiving to do, probably to the people who have hurt me most, and in some ways "changed" my life forever.
I forgive you. I know you arent here now, but I forgive you. I am sorry for not forgiving you sooner. I was wrong.