“Loving Well”
I realized that she is so well-loved because she loved well.
I know a lot of my posts recently are about my precious grandmother, but I’ve spent a lot of time with her recently and I’m still learning valuable lessons by observing her. She’s had a revolving door of visitors since she was hospitalized and then brought home under hospice care the following week. And she has enjoyed seeing each one, and not only does she know who they are, she asks how they are doing and asks about their family. The most common thing I hear is how much people love her. My mom told me about a friend of mine who dropped by to see her one afternoon. He’s in his early 50s, but that didn’t stop this strong man from weeping over her and saying how much he loved her and just how much she had touched his life. He said that will always remember how she would pat his shoulder, tell him what a good man he was, and give him an encouraging word.
A lot of the time, we tend to forget our elderly and not make time for them. The thought ran through my mind as to why Manette is different. Why do so many people still take the time to call or visit and speak of how much they love her? As I pondered that question, I realized that she is so well-loved because she loved well. She learned the art of loving everybody like Christ loves them and like Christ loves her. Her heart is full of God’s love. When someone has God’s love pouring from them, it is easy to love them in return. She may not have agreed with or liked what people did, but it didn’t stop her from loving them and praying for them.
Pawpaw and Manette pastored for 30 years and they loved everyone with whom they came in contact through their ministry. Many of their parishioners became like family to us and we remain close. There are people everywhere who were touched by them and who are still checking in on her. I have been truly blessed to have such wonderful role models in my life. My prayer is that I too will love others as Christ loves them so that when I come to the end of my life, people will say that I have loved well. I pray that for you as well, for that is exactly what God calls us to do!
John 15:9-12 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you; continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you.
I Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.
Leviticus 19:8 Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself, for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt, I am the Lord your God.
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
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