himself to us. Love is like that." [Ephesians 5:1-2--The Message].
In "Sisterchicks Down Under", Robin Gunn's protagonist quotes this verse and then says, "I thought of all the people I had loved cautiously over the years.
What would my life look like if I started to love extravagantly?"
I pondered this question myself. First I thought, "I can't even love (as an emotion) the people around me at all. My heart has been frozen too long."
For so many years, I would listen to people telling me their problems and I'd nod, and I'd act like I was supposed to act. "Uh, huh. I am so sorry to hear that. How can I help you?"
No feelings about it.
It worried me. Like the Tin Woodsman, in the Wizard of Oz, "If I only had a heart!"
Something has been happening recently.
First, I noticed that I have been starting to actually listen to people.
And I noticed that I am able to see and think about people's pain
without feeling like I need to fix it.
And I can actually bear to hear them talking to me about their problems.
My heart has started to feel things.
and I can feel empathy for them.
And compassion.
And the love that Christ bids us have for one another.
I don't have to be that person who fixes their problems.
I can just listen. And pray with them. And pray over them and for them.
And let God deal with it, as He will. Because He loves them extravagantly.
And, if I am moved to do something, I can offer to do it, with love. Because He loves me extravagantly, too.