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As many holidays in America, Valentine's Day has become a spending frenzy, trying to get the perfect gift that has to be better than last year's. I realize not everyone approaches this day like that, but many do.
This day is supposed to be about love. The problem is, we think love is just a feeling. We throw the word around like it has no meaning. This week, I have experienced a different kind of love.
I saw people coming together to support a family with a missing relative. I saw a community pour out love on families who lost everything in a fire. This is the kind of love that lasts. This is how love is expressed in tangible ways. This is how we can truly be the hands and feet of Jesus.
The thing that's getting to me is... why don't we live like this every day? Why does the best in us only come out when people are hurting?
Matthew 25:34-46
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Your last question....I feel the same way. But, if we stop and clear our eyes (or actually, if God has cleared our eyes!!), we will see that EVERYDAY there are people hurting and there are multiple opportunities, everyday, to pour out love. Making ourselves sensitive to this need is what we need to work on. I think we pour out love just fine on people we "know" (or if we know their stories)...but the people we don't know...that's another issue entirely. And so many people these days don't feel loved...and if you don't feel loved (or are truly "unloved")...it's so hard to release love.
ReplyDeleteYour family has been in my prayers...and I know God is soooo good that Teresa's life is going to be turned upside down, but in the end, it will all be in such a GOOD (GOD!) way!!
You are very right, and kind of how I was thinking. There is always a need to "give a cup of cold water" to someone. And most of the time, it costs us nothing but a little time (and some pride).
ReplyDeleteWhy don't we live like this every day? Why does the best in us only come out when people are hurting?
ReplyDeleteBecause, in general, our society values the urgent over the important. When the urgent and the important coincide, we can reveal the best parts of our character. When the urgent and the important are opposed, we reveal our worst.
One quote I've seen which haunts me:
If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? --Stephen Levine
Thanks Jim. The urgent doe definitely win over important.
ReplyDeleteIt's the hurts that we can't see that we need to be more aware of. It's easier to want to help someone that is battered and bloody on the side of the road than it is to help the single mom in the store just trying to make ends meet. Her need isn't as visible to the naked eye. Discernment must come into play. And we have to want to see it and have the desire to reach out.
Thanks for that quote. It has me thinking.