A while ago, I had a bad week. One of those weeks where it seemed that every phone call was more bad news, like every visitor was coming to complain, like every email was another emotional hit.
One of THOSE weeks.
And then, as I sat at my desk pulling myself together, I heard it.
A voice, from the doorway, said “You are loved.”
That was it—three simple words, from a friend who didn’t know why I was hurting so deeply. But it didn’t matter—I was hurting—and she could offer the basic reality of my situation.
It didn’t fix everything, it didn’t stop the complaints or burdens or sadness—but it put it back into perspective for me.
I am loved. I’m loved by my friends, I’m loved by my God. Not a fleeting, casual affection; the deep, unstopping and unstoppable love of being a child of God. It’s not something I can take lightly, or reject, or disbelieve. I am loved.
As we all are.
We are loved. No matter what life throws at us, we are loved. In the good days, we are loved; in the bad days, we are loved.
What a gift.
And what an opportunity for us then to share that love, with those around us who are hurting. Not restricting love to when we feel like it, with the folks we choose, but sharing with everyone, every time. Reminding ourselves, and the world, that love drives out fear and sorrow and all that would keep us burdened and downtrodden.
So let us love. Let us live knowing that love is not some abstract concept, but a reality that is offered to us, and then through us. Let us love because God first loved us.
Let us hear in our hearts, and share with the hearts we encounter, the truth for us all:
You are loved.
By Aveleigh Kyle September 12, 2016 - 9:39 am
Loved this.
By Laura Marie Piotrowicz September 12, 2016 - 10:01 pm
Thanks!
By Anglican Diocese of Toronto September 12, 2016 - 9:39 am
A great reminder at the start of a busy week – thank you!
By Laura Marie Piotrowicz September 12, 2016 - 10:02 pm
Thanks!
By Janet Kataila September 12, 2016 - 10:39 am
Let us love.
By Laura Marie Piotrowicz September 12, 2016 - 10:02 pm
Amen!
By Brian Johnson September 12, 2016 - 1:05 pm
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We are loved by God even though we are in sin. The love we can think of receiving has no foundation in anything we are, no roots in what we do. The love of God is his choice alone.
A great reminder, we are loved. And the love is shown at a great cost and sacrifice. And the love of God is for people who are not Children of God.
By Laura Marie Piotrowicz September 12, 2016 - 10:06 pm
Hi Brian, I’m reminded of the quote by Philip Yancey: “…there is nothing I can do to make God love me more, and nothing I can do to make God love me less.”
Re: your last line, I think the love of God is for all people – for we are all children of God.
By Olga September 13, 2016 - 6:51 pm
Dear Laura Marie Piotrowicz, when you say “we are all children of God” I hope you are referring to those who have acknowledged their redemption through the BLOOD OF JESUS and not just everyone in general. Please explain. Thanks
By Laura Marie Piotrowicz September 15, 2016 - 9:47 pm
Hi Olga,
I try to live my theology that the God who created us all and gave his Son for us all also loves us all; and that through that love we are all welcomed in his family. I am aware of differing views in scripture on this topic, and personally I lean to Luke 6.35; but I’ll leave the judgement to God as God alone knows what is in one’s heart. In the meantime, I’ll err on the side of loving, to the best of my ability.
By Kyle Norman September 13, 2016 - 11:57 am
A great post as always LauraMarie. On my phone I have a quote from one of Charles Spurgeon’s sermons called “Love’s Logic”.
“Oh it is heavenly living to taste God’s love in every morsel of bread we eat; it is a blessed living to know that we breathe an atmosphere purified and made fragrant with divine love, that love protects us while we sleep, hanging like a silken curtain all around our bed, and love opens the eyelids of the morning to smile upon us as we wake. Ah, even when we are sick, it is love that chastens us; when we are impoverished, love relieves us of burden; love gives and love takes; love smites. We are compassed about with love, above, beneath, around, within, without. If we could but recognize this, we should become as flames of fire, ardent and fervent towards our God.”
By Laura Marie Piotrowicz September 15, 2016 - 9:34 pm
thanks Kyle – great quote! I appreciate your sharing of Spurgeon 🙂