Many things we take for granted may not be commonplace for others. When something typically considered normal is absent from your life, it quickly disrupts your sense of normalcy. 

Richard (not his real name) gives a good example:  

I have a beautiful mortgage-free house. 

My refrigerator is full. 

My lovely vehicle is paid off. 

My children are smart, educated and well-mannered. 

I have a healthy business with a large turnover. 

BUT MY WIFE DOESN’T LOVE ME! 

How can you be positive then? The love of your wife is more important than all the above-mentioned things! 

One simply takes love from the other person for granted, as normal, but as soon as it’s missing, your life becomes abnormal. Then you miss it. Then you wish it could return to how it was at the beginning. 

I want to state immediately that I am fortunate not to be in that position. I suspect you do not consider yourself to be in this loveless category either. However, is that truly the case? Are there not instances where the other person’s actions lack love? 

Jesus came to overturn the apple cart and made His Father’s law very simple. Love God and love your fellow man. That’s it! That’s all you have to do. Just be loving. 

Do you want to do as God and Jesus commanded? Then we must love each other. 11For this is the original message we heard: We should love each other. 

We can give our families everything. We can give them a roof over their heads. We can make sure that the cupboards and refrigerators are filled with food. We can even give our children the best education, but if we forget to do everything with love, we are just noisy cymbals, with no real impact. 

Often, it’s the self that only wants and takes, that gets in the way and prevents us from loving and living love. Often, love is second in line. While others actually prefer to have love first, and the rest can wait. 

Have you ever witnessed someone pause amidst their busyness and simply give their undivided attention to another? The recipient’s face visibly brightens; they feel deeply honoured that someone has taken the time for them. 

May we earnestly embrace this command from Jesus and integrate it into our daily lives. Let every action we take testify to love, specifically, the love God has for us. 

May our every act testify of the great love that Jesus came to show us on the cross.  

Scripture
1 John 3:11-18 

Reflection
How much love is there in your actions?
Where do you need to get rid of lovelessness?
Where do you need to increase love? 

Prayer
Jesus, thank you for Your love on the cross. May Your love be reflected in everything I do. Amen.