Learning to Love

This morning Hannah and I took some Spanish kids to the park to play, and I started thinking about kids and love.  I believe that deep inside, we have a big similarity to children, but they are more willing to show what we all feel.  Everyone, young to old, wants to be loved and accepted.  As we get older, we try to fill that desire with more things – people, possessions, popularity, education, success, stuff.  Into this desperation, we have the great message of hope. 

We have a Savior who loved us so much that He died for us (Romans 5:8).  We can completely depend on Him because He has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).  God is our refuge, and He is bigger than any of our battles (Psalm 46).  We can run to our Father, whose arms are open to us, because through Jesus we are sons and daughters of the Most High (Galatians 4:4-7). 

People need to hear this, but often the way to share this is to love them first.  A hug, a look, crying with them, helping them – this is our calling and is made possible through Jesus.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 reminds us that we can comfort because God Himself has comforted us.  When we experience comfort and love by the Holy Spirit, this enables us to share someone else’s burden.  We can give and love, because we have been given much and loved much. 

Holding those little hands today and listening to their stories and joys (as much as I could understand) is one way in which I can love.  Jesus called the little children to Himself.  He humbled Himself to love on some kids, which everyone thought was absurd, even His disciples.  May we more often take the time to “look absurd in the eyes of the world.”  May we love people in the physical realm, watching Jesus use us to heal them in the spiritual one.