Someone you love might be unusually clingy today.
Someone you love might have some extra hostility.
Someone you love might be eerily quiet or unreasonably defensive.
And you love her anyway.
 
Someone you love might have paper – thin patience.
Someone you love might be trying to shut you out.
Someone you love might be trying to push you away.
And you love him anyway.
 
Someone you love might say hateful words.
Someone you love might hate herself right now.
Someone you love might hate you right now.
And you love her anyway.
 
Someone you love might not be himself right now.
Someone you love might be really hard to love right now.
Someone you love might feel very far away.
And you love him anyway.
And you love her anyway.
 
Just let that soak in for a moment.
 
You love someone at his worst.
You love someone when she’s most unlovable.
You love them anyway.
You love them anyway.
 
Because of you, there is a human being walking on this earth who doesn’t have to ask for love – it is just given; it is given.
 
Because of you, there is a human being who doesn’t have to wonder if he or she is loved.  He just knows; she just knows.
 
Because of you, someone can be human – with faults, flaws, moods, and mistakes-and still be loved.
 
There is no greater gift in someone’s lifetime than unconditional, never – failing, steadfast love.
And that’s what you give.
 
Let that soak in…and put your doubts and failings to rest.
Then go on doing what you do best: Love them anyway.

(Rachel Macy Stafford, copyright 2016, used with permission. For the entire blog go to handsfreemama.com)

I have been reading blogs and articles, listening to sermons and discussions, taking in news from TV, radio and online; all in an effort to find a way to do that thing God asks us to do:  love my enemy.  I don’t want to love them.  They are my enemy, after all.  They are terrible, they hate me, they commit evil acts and say unforgiveable things.  How can God ask this of us?

I read the above piece several times, first from the perspective of a parent, a spouse, a daughter, a friend.  This was really easy to do, and felt sweet and comfortable.  I read it again thinking of the way God loves us.  This was harder, because it’s not easy to believe that God can love ALL of us (even my enemy) with such unwavering strength.  Surely he loves  Us a little more than Them, right?  Then I read it from the point of view of loving my enemy.  Not some general, random enemy that I could say I “love” the way we toss out platitudes on greeting cards.  But an actual individual human being who was wholly unlovable and downright evil.  That was really hard.

I doubt anyone is going to be able to just love all people the way that God loves us, or the way we love our children, parents, spouses, friends.  But maybe that’s where we start.  Giving a little more care and patience to the ones closest to us can be a way to make that difficult task of loving our enemies a little bit more possible.  Treating people with kindness when we don’t really feel like it.  Saying a prayer for a terrorist we hear about on the news.  Giving a second chance to a coworker or a service person.  Trusting that the love we put out in the world has just as strong of an effect as the evil that seems to be polluting humanity.  Jesus tells us it’s even stronger.

I am still struggling to love my enemy, but today I will start putting a little more love into my interactions with my family, my friends, the people I see.  I will say those prayers, I will practice that kindness, I will keep trying.

God hasn’t given up on me, it’s the least I can do.

Peace,
Susan Gray