Love Big!

I love watching my kids interact with people. I learn so much about the Father heart of God when I watch my kids. They have not yet learned how to judge people by what they see on the outside. They have not yet been infected by the culture that presumes and assumes what people are thinking and feeling. They just see people as another opportunity for a friend and someone to love. They reflect God’s heart when they love unconditionally. They don’t even notice the walls that people hide behind. They walk right up to the wall, peek their little noses over and say “hi, let’s play”. This blesses me so much. It encourages me to be childlike in my love. Sometimes I get stuck in not wanting to make people feel uncomfortable (that’s the Canadian in me). I just want to be available to show kindness. But I find myself being challenged by what I see in my kids. I am reminded of the parable of the lost sheep found in Matthew 18. The Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep in the open field and goes looking for the lost sheep and calls his friends to rejoice with him when he finds it. God has entrusted each of us with ‘sheep’. He has given us a sphere of influence in which we are called to be faithful with and care for. Perhaps your sphere of influence consists of the your Sunday school class or Bible study group. Perhaps it’s your children or grand children. Maybe your ‘sheep’ look a little more like coworkers, fellow students or neighbors. Whoever the Lord has placed in your life, count it all joy and an opportunity to be faithful and love. If there is a wall, be like my kids, peek over the top and say, “Hey, ya wanna play?” We all need to be loved and cared for. So in the spirit of, “If you have a need, sow a seed”, love and you will be loved. Care for others unconditionally and you will be cared for. Bless and you will be blessed. God is faithful and although it may not look the way you thought it would, open your eyes to see God extending His faithful love, compassion and care for you from the strangest places. Like little kids who just love.