It’s another night here at Casa Kelsey and with no other great distraction planned, we turned to Netflix for some easy on-demand entertainment. Netflix courteously suggested titles of movies and shows that might perk our interest and, for some inexplicable and extremely random reason, we chose a ridiculous movie about the ever-famous topic of love. As is the case with many chick-flicks the plots twists and turns were sudden and laughable, not realistic in the slightest. Nevertheless, it did its job to engage our attention for a couple of hours J
The movie was quite unmemorable except for one single phrase that stands out to me even now: “Amar es perdonar.” To love is to forgive. I don’t know why this simple 3 word phrase has struck me so profoundly… But for me, that night, those words rang true. I think we often highlight the other, more enjoyable parts of love: the passion, the sincerity, the fun, the togetherness, the adventure. But we often avoid the harder, more gritty parts of love: the pain, the hurt, the anger, the brokenness, the disappointment.
If we jump around in our love-giving and love-receiving, we are only going to skim the surface of our relationships. When we become disappointed or hurt by someone, we will forever give into the temptation to cut-off that person from our lives, to break off, to run away. We will befriend people, stay with them for a time, and then move on. People will fill our lives and yet we will feel a deep loneliness.
To endure through the storms, to bear witness to the ugliness of love, to come out of it on the other side and be able to honestly say “I still love you” is a deeper love that transcends failure and brokenness. This is the Love God demonstrates for us every single day. Let me say that again: God loves us that much every single day. Yesterday. Tomorrow. Forever.
It’s hard to love this way. It’s really hard. But it’s so worth it. And as Christ-followers, it’s what we are called to do. As our Father and Creator loves us, so too should we love his Creation and fellow image-bearers.
To paraphrase a favorite Bible passage:
In those dark moments of failure and brokenness, I love you. Even while you are a sinner, I love you. I love you so deeply I sent my Son to save you, once and for all. Indeed, I love you still. (Romans 5:8)
Do you believe in Love? Do you believe in it enough to live it? Don’t be afraid to love. Love others as you want to be loved. Be the love you want to see.
Stay tuned!
Photo credit: Lisa Widerberg / Foter / CC BY
