Cover Me

Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.Proverbs Daily is a reader-supported publication. All posts are free, but all donations help spread the message. When you see the word “upgrade,” you’re simply invited to help me make the sacred positively contagious...thank you in advance for becoming a free or paid subscriber.It doesn’t snow much in Dallas. So when it does, everything stops…well unless you’re on Central Expressway and then everything is sliding. But I digress… But one year, when the snow was coming down really strong, I found myself over in one of the roughest parts of town — the sho-nuff hood. Now it wasn’t the worst part of town, but it was what it was–shout out to Sweet Georgia Browns–if you know…then you know!So here I was in the hood, and like many that usually come in, and get out quick…It looked so beautiful that I had to take a walk and enjoy the scene…in the hood, but in the hood blanketed by snow! Same broken sidewalks. Same boarded-up buildings that ‘used to be’ restaurants. But with that blanket of snow? It looked redeemed.That’s what this verse reminds me of every time I read it. Proverbs 10:12 says,“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.”Love changes what you see. It doesn’t deny reality — it redeems it. Which you could probably say it sees reality in a deeper reality.💞 Positive Sentiment OverrideOne of my favorite authors Dr. John Gottman calls it positive-sentiment override. This is what it looks like:When you’re in a healthy, loving space, your heart “covers.” Your partner leaves clothes on the floor? “Ahh Bay’ was in a hurry.” Forget to text back? “Oh she just been so busy…can’t wait to see her!” Love rewrites the narrative.But in a bitter season, when your relationship is going through toxicity…the opposite happens — he calls it negative-sentiment override. What does that look like?Well, Everything becomes proof that something is wrong, some way some how. “You bought flowers? What are you hiding?”  What did you do? That’s sad, but it’s true.Hatred stirs up stories that don’t exist. Love rewrites stories that could’ve killed connection.That’s what God does with us. He doesn’t erase sin; He covers it — with grace, with mercy, with a new layer of beauty. Like snow over the concrete jungle, love makes rough places radiant.❤️ Be the CoveringMaybe today you’re surrounded by people who rub you wrong. Try something radical — cover them. Not with fake niceness, but with perspective that says, “I choose to see you through love.”And before you do that — be sure to cover yourself. You know you…and you know you need grace! So receive God’s grace. Forgive your own flaws. Because you can’t truly cover others until you’ve accepted how fully you’ve been covered.💥 RememberHatred exposes what’s wrong; love reveals what’s still possible.PrayerLord, teach me to love deeply and cover wisely today.Today’s ChallengeLook for one person who’s hard to love. Speak a kind word, send a text, or silently pray grace over them. And tonight, thank God for the snow that still covers you.About the AuthorFred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch📱Experience Proverbs Daily by Subscribing!Ready to receive daily wisdom directly on your phone?Go to proverbsdaily.org for the app  or just click that Subscribe button right now!Be Wise and Be Well...peace.Thanks for reading Proverbs Daily! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Hey Fred Lynch! at heyfredlynch.substack.com/subscribe