Loving Them, All of Them

 I said something today that would shock most people who have know me for forever.  I can't share the details but I can share the premise.  I want the people in my life to know I love them no matter what.  And I mean the very real, deep kind of love that covers a multitude of sins and offenses.  The kind of love we see in the Savior.  

Now here's the clincher. People are not easy to love, especially the ones closest to us and the ones we've know the longest.  But my heart is telling me that these are the ones I must love the best first so that I can love the ones that come next.  I know from experience that love multiplies. Ask any mom of lots of kids about this phenomenon.  It will never cease to amaze me each time I held my newborn baby the amount of brand new, just for this child, love swelled up inside of me. If I love my husband and children well, they in turn love each other better and love multiplies.  When I love my neighbor, co-worker, and ministry partners well, love multiplies. 

The greatest example of love is our Savior.  He loved unconditionally.  His example to us is to sit, talk,  and eat with the rejects, the sinners, the dirty and the poor.  And when He gathered with the closest ones to eat His final meal He knelt and washed their feet as He prepared to give His life in the ultimate sacrifice of love.

When I love people, I want to love like Christ.  That means I must love all people.  And that's where I start to stumble, until I hear him gently whisper, "this one is hurting, they are tender, love this one well." It is then that I see with His eyes and start to love without judgement or condemnation.  

I confess I have struggled with this for a long time.  My world is black and white and I was harsh to judge and shun.  I am ashamed that I took His job upon myself and I ache for the ones I hurt along the way. I was talking with a friend today about my black and white viewpoint and she reminded me that to love well, we must venture into "their" gray.  I am grateful for  a new beginning as I set out to love with His mindset. And I will stand on the word of God, I will not condone sin, but I will love you sin and all. Because my Savior loves me.