I HATE, hate. It’s cruel, exhausting and absolutely nothing good comes from it. I like to think of myself as a very loving person. Hate sounds so harsh and I don’t believe it is in my character to feel so maliciously about someone. However, I have noticed I tend to pick and choose who receives my love.
Some people are a lot harder to love than others (I bet some people just came to your mind as you read that.) It’s okay, I am not writing this to shame anyone, we have ALL been there. There are people that you quickly hide from when you see them in public or continue to make excuses when they want to make plans, or maybe bitterness wells up inside when they begin talking.
Why are we like this? Why are some just so hard to love?
It’s obviously a THEM problem, not a ME problem…right?? No, not so much.
The other day we had kids of all ages from around the neighborhood over for Vacation Bible School. My heart was melting over each one of their sweet faces. Their eyes glistened with innocence, I heard uncontrollable laughter all around and felt their little hands reaching for mine. How could I not love anyone of them?
Well, low and behold, there was Juan. He was much older than the other kids and was constantly pushing, kicking, making obnoxious noises and wasn’t listening to me when I asked him to follow me back to group. As I watched him trip a baby I immediately felt my heart become hardened and I felt no love for this kid. I was so overcome with frustration and didn’t understand how one kid could cause so much ruckus.
I had to walk away quickly and say a prayer to God because I knew I wasn’t going to respond in love if I stayed around. “Lord, help me to love him like I love the other kids. Give me eyes like you and a heart like you.”
As a daughter of Christ I receive the unconditional love of God. No matter what I do or don’t do he still loves me-THANK YOU JESUS. So, why is it that I pick and choose when I want love others? They deserve unconditional love just as much as me. It is not something we work for or earn, but a free gift.
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
Well, the next day, the same kid came back to VBS. And at the end of it, all the kids were playing around in the grassy field. He was on the side so I went to talk to him. I saw he was wearing an Upwards basketball jersey. So I told him, “I played upwards basketball when I was little!” I pointed at his jersey as I said it and he just lit up. He asked if I played and I told him I played basketball all growing up and in college. He was so excited and loved that I shared that with him! We wanted to play right then but didn’t have a goal or basketball….both are a little important if you want to play the game. I am hoping that we will have a chance before I leave on Wednesday!
Anyway, our talk was short and sweet before he ran off to play with the other kids, but it felt like a big moment for me because my heart changed for this boy because of a simple conversation. I no longer had a hardened heart toward for him, instead it turned into compassion and understanding for him. I could see that he just needed attention and to be shown that he was heard.
“If you keep my commands you will REMAIN in my love…my command is this: love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:10,12
re | main {continue to exist, especially after other similar or related people or things have ceased to exist}
This has been my word for Belize. I have really dug into John 15 this month where remain shows up in almost every other sentence, so it really stuck out to me. Obviously, this word is important, so I wanted to really reflect on it.
As a daughter of Christ I must REMAIN in Christ. I must REMAIN in his love. That way He can REMAIN in me. Although, this is not an easy thing to do I am working at consistently abiding in the presence of the Lord. I pray that you, my brothers and sisters, can work on REMAINing in the Lord everyday too.
If you aren’t sure what remaining in the Lord looks like, well here it is:
- believe that Jesus is God’s son
- receive him as Lord and Savior
- do as he says
- believe thegospel
- relate and love on the community of believers
This world is full of hate and the only way we can continue to show love is if we are in Christ and he is in us. As Christians, it is our role to LOVE. “This is my command: love each other.” John 15:17 By the way, the “each other” means EVERYONE.
“LOVE your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
Love those who are hard to love. If we want to see a change in the world we need to show love. We can hate sin that we see in the world, in others, and in ourselves BUT we should love all the people, no matter where they come from or what they have done. This is definitely a humbling thing to be able to do because your pride will take a huge hit. We want to be the judges of who receives our love but that call is not up to us.
I urge you all to love, even when it is not easy. If we want to make a difference in this world we can’t let little things keep us from loving our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we don’t have love in the body of Christ how are we suppose to love the world when it only gives hate.
Juan came back Friday for our last day of Vacation Bible School and I was able to watch him with a smile and just feel love for him. I LOVED the way he went straight to the front during worship time. I LOVE that he gave his all as the kids danced and sang. I LOVE that he did it with a big smile on his face. I LOVE that he even sat and listened to the story of the Prodigal Son. I LOVED that he just came. I LOVED that we could have more time to love on him like the Father has loved us.
“And now the greatest of these three remain: faith, Hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
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UPDATE: this Wednesday, October 31st, my time here in Belmopan, Belize will come to an end. We will be heading to Caye Caulker to meet up with all of P Squad to debrief month one! Then on November 4th (one week from today) we will be heading to our second country, Honduras! The entire squad of 38 people will be living in one house together so prayers are greatly appreciated!
Thanks for for your continuous support and love! I feel it even when i’m Countries away from y’all!
Love you all,
Kyn
