The minute I walk into my mom’s house the cutest little critter greets me. Her little tail wags so fast her whole body moves side to side, she jumps up and down, and runs around in circles with so much excitement I can barely pick her up. As I cuddle her in my arms, she lavishes me with affection and love.
However, if I walk in without showing her attention and prolong our warm greeting, she follows me around the house, nipping at my heels and begins to bark, as if to remind me that she needs some attention! I scoop her into my arms and say, “I love on my kids all day and now I have to love on you! Everyone seems to need attention today!” In reply, she licks me all the more to say “Thank you”.
Loving on people and fulfilling the needs of others, even the family dog, can get exhausting! But God’s word reminds us, the call to love is highest.
Prov. 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
1 John 4:7 – “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
1 Peter 4:8 – “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
Matthew 22: 37-40 – “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
The times I don’t “feel” like showing love is when I’m tired, cranky, in a hurry or on a mission to complete my own agenda. All of these things are rooted in selfishness. Life in those moments is all about me, and I flat out forget to think of others. If I could just stop and look at those around me (even the dog!) through God’s eyes, then I would realize God has invited me to be a part of something bigger then my agenda or cranky attitude and show love to the people He died for!
When loves feels hard and honestly, it’s the last thing you want to do, remember that love is what sent Jesus to die on a cross for each of us. He loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life! (John 3:16)
Jesus never grows tired of showing us love and his cup never runs dry. Out of gratitude for the love He shows us, may we continue to show love to all those around us!