Works

No Greater Love Part 2

How do we love each other?

We tend to know the right words at the right times but where is our heart with actions being lived out….Like a song that describes one’s feelings toward someone else with a love overflowing that wont ever cease with time…Yet, more often than not time seems to allow feelings to fade and emotions to become dull…such a sad reality when you look into a child’s sad face who has lost their parents for whatever reason or they are starving to get their next meal which could be one or two days away…As I have had to look in the mirror and examine these places which must be addressed and my eyes opened, I see how selfish my own heart can be and so I read of this love which overwhelms me…my tears pour out before Almighty God who has so graciously given me a sound mind. Who has with His own very Word remained faithful when it would be easier at times to walk away.

Who am I that You consider? The stars You hang them like a mobile over a cradle. The sun shines down so we don’t freeze even when we complain about the weather.

So, how do I love? First, I get on my knees before You, oh Lord, with a grateful heart for Your loving kindness…than I ask for my eyes to see others thru Your eyes of compassion. I have not walked the path that they have been on and they may be exhausted from life’s trials and circumstances. They may not have had a word of encouragement along the way or a friend to walk along side them and they are lonely and afraid. They may be frazzled and worn out and need to be refreshed with compassion and gentleness which only You can give….so how do we love each other?

Looking at people thru the lens of Christ’s Word. Embracing their heartaches as if it were our own.. We rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. We make it a priority to put Christ first in our own life with a heart of thankfulness so when others are put before our path, we are able to love authentically. Compassion seems to be a gift that God in His mercy gives to us. Without this, I am not moved to such lengths to set aside my own wants for the sake of another human or those I have yet to meet. Yet, my two girls that I sponsor thru World Vision would not have their immediate needs met without someone’s help. Yet, the names are endless and the hope of each child to have their name picked must be a delight that is beyond my comprehension. For, I have never gone a day without food. I never had to worry about where I would lay my head or if there would be mice, snakes etc around me…The home may not have been what I would have chosen yet how many times do we complain about what is around us decoratively speaking when there are people who are in desperate need of a place to call home. How easily we get offended by others when at least we have friends and there are some who are alone in this world… How do we love others with the love of Christ when we are demanding our rights to be heard when our rights are more important than the eternal destination of those in our midst… How do I love others in Christ? How would I want to be treated or spoken to if I were the one being addressed? I go to the cross and ponder of the grace that sent Christ to this dirt-filled path as he walked up the hill to his own death...

Yet, He arose and we have this hope that no matter how bleak our circumstances may be and like Job who faced tragedies beyond my understanding; he rested on the fact that God is who He says He is and our life is held by His thread of grace which holds us up regardless of our situation…and that my dear friend is something that can't be snatched up by human hands or circumstances….I love out loud…I let my life do the talking and the lips praise God…I stay in tune with the song that God has for me to sing thru my life and the notes though they may be simple to some and mundane for others; I see the symphony which is being played. Every person is a note and every life a song; so if we live the notes that God has for us than the song becomes a melody and is played in harmony with the symphony that if you listen for a moment…you will hear notes being played all around you and then you began to hear the symphony that God is playing and it is beautiful…listen with your heart not your mind. Listen with your heart in tune with Christ…how can I love you ask? How can I do any less than love others when that is the song He wrote for our life? Selah..

Penned by Hannah Lin Grace