To the statement, “I couldn’t care less!”, Mother Teresa responded, “I couldn’t care more!” To love is to serve especially when lovelessness surrounds us.
Several years ago, our granddaughter, then around 3 years old, was walking down the street of a small city with her mother. Approaching them was a homeless man. Gently she pulled on her mother’s arm and softly said, “He has no family.”
She intrinsically sensed his deepest need. Without being able to articulate it, her 3-year old heart saw him uncovered, unprotected, unloved and without dignity or place of belonging. Already she knew that family, true family, is a place of love and value.
Why did she at only three so clearly see what we as adults miss? “He needs a family! He needs love!”
We look but don’t see!
We see without wanting to look!
(Mother Teresa)
Lovelessness
“But anyone who hates another brother or sister
is still living and walking in darkness.
Such a person does not know the way to go,
having been blinded by the darkness.”
I John 2:11
Hatred to me is a very strong word. However, the literal translation of this word here is actually “to love less“. If I love anyone less, God equates it to hatred.
Why? In loving less, I become willfully “blinded” to the needs of others. I have opportunity daily to love more or to love less!
Wedges in relationship are evidence of lovelessness:
Divorce says, “I love you less.”
“I am afraid to love” we whisper to the aborted.
Churches split because of lovelessness;
family feuds linger for generations in loving less.
Gossip, slander and complaining announce it!
Pride, prejudice and jealously demonstrate it!
Loving More!
Just the other day, a small group of young adults picked up a panhandler, bought him a meal, gave him a ride, loved on him and prayed for him. For them, it was a natural act affirming value and worth to someone.
They loved more!
Another group of people I know have given themselves to consistently love and care for drug addicts, gang members, prostitutes, and children in the inner city. They give more than a warm drink, food, and a safe environment. Warm socks and jackets come with the hugs, prayer, and genuine concern. Their motto? “Love lives here!”
They love more!
I recently met a young girl who cares deeply for inner city children who don’t have a safe place to go after school. She is spear-heading a ministry giving them food, loving and validating them, while teaching them bible verses and songs. Though she is little more than a child herself, she leads in tangibly loving about a hundred children in her area.
She loves more!
I also know a couple of grandmothers who are putting their hearts and feet in difficult places. They book a spot at porn conventions to “interpret dreams” as a way to love and pray for prostitutes, pimps and johns.
They love more!
I haven’t mentioned yet those who:
- foster children to make sure each child feels loved and wanted
- risk they lives in volatile nations
- go on medical missions, build orphanages and schools
- jump into the lion’s mouth of domestic violence, abuse and brokenness bringing love and restoration
These love more!
You and Me
Though the dis-ease of love-less-ness is obvious all around us, you and I can make a difference. We have an ability to turn the tide, one person at a time!
I was recently told every person will influence approximately 20,000 people through their life, either directly or indirectly. Our choices determine what that influence will look like?
“The King will reply,
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'”
Matthew 25:40
Jesus considers His own brother or sister the “least of these.”
Many today have set their hearts to love “the one” in front of them. In so doing they have transformed nations! They recognize the face of Jesus in every person, seeing each as a person worthy of love and dignity.
Each one I touch with love will have a greater freedom to love others. With prayer, my little effort is a seed where more love may some day grow.
Let us pick up the brush of faith and colour our world with love. By choosing today to have our eyes open to love, lovelessness can be broken in our midst!