"And therefore the creature that seeth and feeleth the working of love by grace, hateth nought but sin."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 52)
Seeing and experiencing the grace of God, the unconditional love and acceptance of God, has a beautiful effect on us. When you find out that God is not judging or condemning you, you find that you don't feel judgmental or condemning towards other people. When you find out you are accepted, just as you are, with all your mistakes, you find yourself less irritated with others and more likely to accept them even if they aren't perfect, either. When you find a love that is permanent, that you can't lose no matter how badly you act, you find yourself extending love and kindness towards others who act rather badly. When you find that there is no measuring stick, no impossible standard you must live up to, that you are allowed to be real and honest and even fail and still be okay in God's eyes, it makes you feel more sympathetic to those who feel burdened by high standards they can't keep. When you find God is loving everyone equally and bringing everyone home, you start to see the all people as one big family of God, rather than dividing people into "us" versus "them." You find yourself loving the whole world, hating only one thing - unlove towards others.
Law could never have such an effect within us, for Law only brings brings frustration and condemnation. But grace, the unconditional Love that asks for nothing in return and can't be offended, no matter what we do, that Love naturally brings out love in us. Love naturally brings out love because Love is the strongest thing there is, and Love never fails. It always wins out over every negative attitude. With grace, all you want to do is love, because all you are is loved with no possibility of being unloved.
"We love because He first loved us."
1 John 4:19 (NIV)
A Prayer: Your love and acceptance melt my anger and hatred and make me just want to love everybody!