The world tries to define love as something that can be attained. Getting dressed up and impressing others to gain their approval, and eventually their love.
The Lord has been showing me that love has to be sacrificially given and cannot be earned or attained. A couple Saturday’s ago the men on my squad decided to spend time with my team. On Friday night we received a card telling us to be ready and outside of their home at 9 am on Saturday morning. Up bright and early, we all anxiously awaited what was to come. We met outside and each man walked us inside one by one, to a place set at the table where our name had been written on a card. Each card was filled with words of encouragement that they asked the Holy Spirit for guidance in. After finishing breakfast, they announced that we were going to the water park! We changed clothes and piled way too many people into tuk tuks, which is pretty typical around here. After exploring the local water park we spent the afternoon playing soccer with some neighborhood kids and then took team photos out by the governor’s house. It was a day full of community and intentionality.
To end the night the men told us to meet them at Cafe Eden at 6:30 pm. When we arrived we walked to the conference room upstairs and once again took a seat at the table. Fellowship and laughter filled the air as the 18 of us sat around one long table. But the night wasn’t over yet. The men of team Covenant had planned a worship time and to wash each of our feet. Throughout the hour of worshipping, each woman on my team had their feet washed by one man as the others gathered around and prayed, speaking life and wisdom into the air.
This wasn’t something that they had been told to do or even asked to do. It was something that they took initiative and wanted to do. As we sat and worshipped I could truly feel and see the love of Christ pouring through them. It’s a sacrificial choice to love. It cannot be forced and it is not something that you can wish upon yourself, but it is a gift. A gift that we are freely given from our Heavenly Father.
