I’ve been thinking a lot about love lately and how it relates in this larger conversation about loving our neighbors.
Love is a powerful force. Yet it keeps its full power only in as much as it remains free.
Freely given. Freely received.
We diminish its power whenever we try to hold it, shape it, control it, or use it in any way for our own selfish gain.
We often talk about love as being a verb rather than a noun. Of course, it’s both, but in the context of loving our neighbors, I believe genuine love will be observable.
This must be true for the simple reason that love changes both the one giving and the one receiving the love.
You cannot give love or receive love without being changed in some way, no matter how small, no matter if you want or welcome the change Love brings.
This is part of Love’s power.
I was watching a mystery show the other night and one character was an autistic boy. As the story unfolds, we learn he was twelve years old before he spoke a single word. When asked why he’d waited so long to speak, he answered, “I was listening.”
His answer has been echoing in my thoughts ever since.
Most of us are hard-pressed to listen for 12 minutes, let alone 12 years.
We all want to be heard, understood, and accepted. But how often do we attempt to meet these same needs in those around us?
We can never hope to understand and accept someone if we don’t first listen to them.
So what does listening have to do with loving your neighbor? I believe it is the first, and perhaps easiest, action we can take toward loving another person.
It’s the first step toward understanding and acceptance.
I’m not so naïve to think that our efforts to this end will all be met in kind. However, here is something worthy to aspire to:
“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceable with all men.” Romans 12:18
Take the first step.
“You cannot give love or receive love without being changed in some way, no matter how small, no matter if you want or welcome the change Love brings.” So profoundly true.
This young boy's reply really touches my heart, June. Thank you for sharing this and pointing out the important truth that listening has so much to do with loving our neighbor. Love and blessings to you!