IN HIS GRIP: LOVE LIKE THIS
My mom was from a broken home. It was a story we often
heard about growing up – a father leaving behind his wife and eight children to
be with someone else. This event altered my mom’s view about relationships.
This became evident when she finally had her own family.
My dad’s job required him to travel a lot around the
country. And being a somewhat observant child, I would sometimes catch my mom
digging through dad’s things. I never
commented on this. But now, sharing our life experiences as adults, she
confirmed that it was like a manifestation of her fears and insecurities. She
was like trying to find clues if dad might be cheating on her. She had no peace
of mind. She was afraid to trust. She was afraid that what happened to them
back then would happen again.
But maturing as a Christian, she shared with me a very
important thing that God has taught her: Love the Lord with ALL your heart.
Now why would God command us to do this?
I’ve listened to what people call the “breakup” songs
like “I’m All out of Love” and “Too Much Love Can Kill You.” I’ve heard about
people who have lost their minds or have committed (or attempted) suicide
because of failure in relationships. I’ve met people who jumped from one
relationship to another. I’ve known people whose hearts have hardened because
of the pain of rejection and heartbreak. These things seem to be very far from
what the Bible tells us about love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 gives us the description of love –
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It
does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of
being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the
truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and
endured through every circumstance.” But why do we get tear-jerking experiences
about love instead?
I remember being in a restless state when I was a
teenager. I was aware of a void inside my heart. I had a loving family. I got
great friends. I had my collection of classic novels, albums of my favorite
bands, recycled paper and charcoal pencils, and my collection of anime stuff
that made me happy. But they never really satisfied. Why did I still feel
alone? Why did I still feel empty?
It was in college when God opened a chance for me to know
Him personally – drawing me closer to Him, showing me His beauty. I had many
friends but most of the time I kept to myself and I had a lot of time in my
hands to begin contemplating His Word, appreciate His creation, and experience
His love.
There were Saturdays when I would get up early in the morning
to read my Bible. I would sit on the grass at the park feeling the damp
coldness of the morning breeze blending with the warmth of the morning sun. I
would smell the freshness of nature, and hear the chirping of the birds, and
the crisp sound of wind-blown leaves. There would be Friday nights when I would
go outside and lie on the grass and be awed at the vastness of the evening sky
decorated by thousands of stars. It was breathtaking!
This was God revealing Himself and surrounding me with
His love. This was my majestic Creator showing me that even though I am simply
a microscopic part of the enormous universe that He created, His love for me is
immense. It’s overwhelming to think how the God who made all things takes time
to know me, teach me, guide me, comfort me, discipline me, and mold me. What I
felt was so intense that I could imagine how King David felt when he wrote his
psalms. I couldn’t think of anything to say except, “I want to fall in love
with You.”
However, loving God with all my heart, with all my soul,
with all my mind, and will all my strength (Mark 12:30) is a learning process.
I’ve received my share of scars and bruises in learning this. I’ve learned that all of us are searching for
something that would fill the void in our hearts. We try to satisfy ourselves
with what our families, friends, boyfriends or girlfriends, or material things
can offer, but none of these satisfy. Because the love they offer is temporary
and flawed. It is because it’s a hole that only God can fill.
Every day I learn that only the love of God will complete
me. Every day I learn that only God can satisfy. No one can love me the way He
does. In His love, I will never be disappointed.
Learning to love God with all my heart teaches me how to
love everyone else the right way. It’s inevitable. When you love God, you can’t
help loving everything He made. It shows me that love is indeed patient and
kind and everything else that 1 Corinthians 13 describes; and not painful and
traumatic as the world wants us to think.
Now I understand how my mom can just pray, sit back and
relax even amid turmoil. It’s because she has learned to love God above
everyone and anything else. She has learned to trust on that love, gaining
peace of mind that God will always be in control.
God’s love is everlasting. God’s love is perfect. There’s
no love like this.
Comments
Post a Comment