Splashing Love Everywhere
A couple of days ago, I overheard this energetic conversation between two preschoolers;
“I love you!”
“I love you more!”
“I love you more and more and more!”
I couldn’t help the giant smile that spread across my face at that sweet moment. And I couldn’t help the thoughts that followed.
Such unabashed, enthusiastic expressions of love came pouring out of those two little ones. Why can’t we splash love around so freely? I do this with my precious grandchildren all the time and I did it with my children when they were little. It might be a tad awkward to hear adults declaring love with such freedom. Still, though, maybe we need to learn a thing or two from these babes.
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that we are to love one another. Jesus answers the question, “What is the greatest commandment?” in Matthew, Mark and Luke with these words, “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:36) (Mark 12:30) (Luke 10:27) This command is quickly followed by the second greatest commandment which is to love our neighbors as ourselves.
I think we Christians have heard and practiced this commandment for so long that we might possibly think we’ve “got it in the bag” so to speak. Maybe we need to step back and take a closer look at how we express love.
A few years ago, my adult daughter kindly told me that our family didn’t express love as freely as her new in-law family did. I was floored! I thought I was one of those people that was really great in this department. She explained that we used to, but as her two older brothers transitioned into their teen years, we all seemed to gradually back off in words of love and in our hugs. She was absolutely right! It was a wakeup call for me!
So, I worked at increasing those expressions of love to my children, my husband, my siblings and my parents. Awkwardly at times, I might add. It wasn’t perfect and still isn’t, but I will never, ever take words of love and hugs for granted again. I’m still working on it.
I realize loving our neighbors takes many, many forms: helping those in need, giving to worthy causes, praying for them. The list goes on and on. But again, the freedom of those two children in showering each other with words of love made quite an impression on me. It was as if they truly were joyfully splashing love all over each other.
I wonder if there are those out there that are starving for some measure of love to be splashed in their direction. I’m impressed with the number of adults who were neglected and abused as children who now share stories of the powerful impact tiny acts of love had on them as they were growing up. They remember walking through the halls at school, lost and hurting when a teacher or staff member would simply greet them with a warm, loving smile. It seems so small to us, but their lonely, starving souls grabbed at every morsel of love and care thrown their way. And it made a difference. They felt worth.
Actually, I don’t wonder if those people are out there. I know there are people in our paths that are starving for love; for a smile, for a listening ear, for words of love and encouragement. We can’t make a difference in everyone we encounter, but we for sure can make a difference in some, even if it’s just a smile. I don’t want to keep making the mistake of selfishly walking by those people.
I don’t always know who they are, though.
But God knows. And He lives in me.
I want to begin anew, being liberal with expressions of love. And I want that love to come from that deep place in me that knows and loves God. That deep place that freely receives God’s love. I want to be so full of Him that His love will spill out all over the place.
How that is expressed will look different for each one of us because we are each His unique creation. But I challenge you to go into this new year asking God to show you how He wants you to be more liberal and more intentional with loving your neighbor.
Be filled with God’s love and start splashing that love all over the people in your path.
