I normally don't care too much for Panera, but once I discovered that they make make a mean macaroni n' cheese in a bread bowl, I can normally at least tolerate it now. It was fairly busy on this mid-week day, mostly populated by families, studious folks, and sorority girls. As we (my aunt, my sister, and myself) sat around our overpriced and undersized sandwiches, except for my carbohydrate overloaded mac n' cheese in a bread bowl, we talked and caught up on everybody's lives. We talked about our family, work, graduation...typical stuff. About an hour into our conversation, our focus turned to a far more serious topic: a family member with Alzheimer's disease. As awful as this disease is, as heartbreaking it can be, I was not at all focused on the negative effects that this disease has had on certain people in my family. My attention hung on every word my aunt had to say not out of sympathy or politeness, but because I was struck by the love. As I heard more and more stories about this person who is literally losing her mind, the love with which she is loved by those in my family captivated me. I can only imagine the patience and gentleness and self-control and peace it takes to, day in and day out, bear witness to someone so close fade further and further from the person they once were. I'm not saying these things as a testament to the misery that Alzheimer's causes, I'm saying it because the love that my aunt and uncle have for this family member is something that seems unnatural.
It truly is a great picture for how Christ loves us. Christ loved us without qualification. Christ loved us even when we didn't realize it. He loved us even when he knew we would not reciprocate that love. In a similar way, my family is loving this family member in a way that will not change no matter how much memory this disease robs. They will love unqualified. They love with their time, their money, their disposition, their patience, and their hope. They love without expecting affirmation in return.
This kind of love, however, goes beyond just family. This idea is the whole point--to love all. Christ commands us to love all, without regard to financial, educational, political, or geographical status.
As we ate and talked in the back of the restaurant, I watched as many people came and went. One man in particular grabbed my attention. Judging by the sea foam green scrubs, a nurse. He was studying a packet, perhaps for school, perhaps for work. Either way, what was obvious was the joy that this man had to be studying this packet. I have no clue what he was reading, but it was clear that he LOVED what he was doing. I feel like we could all use a little dose of this medicine. Perhaps less complaining that our professor assigned hours of work. I mean, heaven forbid that a college professor would assign homework that would take actual effort! Perhaps we could use a little more joy in the things that we do. Maybe we could appreciate the things that God has blessed us with--a job, basic necessities, education, etc--and learn to love the things that we have. Learn to love the things that we do and those we do them with.
I don't claim to know much about this word, love. I would be a fool if I did. But what I do know is that God loves us with a love that I can't comprehend, much less explain. I also know that he loved us enough to have his son murdered so that he could look on me with favor and say "well done, my good and faithful servant." So, on this Valentine's Day, go ahead and spoil your better/other half, but don't forget that we are called to love all people at all times. We are called to love like crazy. Love with your time, love with your money, love with your talents, love with your speech, love with your insecurities, love outside of your comfort zone.
"Dear friends, let us not love with words or with speech but with actions and truth."
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