“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” I John 4:7-8 I am going to be completely honest; many moments of many days, I fail to show love. I am tired and cranky, these kids are NOT loving me back; actually they are doing the opposite, they are hating me right now. They are yelling at me about their grade, they are yelling at me about the choice of cereal for breakfast, they are yelling at me for not yelling at the kid that is yelling at them… why should I not loose my temper and just give up on them? Why do they not appreciate me? Me! Me! Me! “…not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Duh. I am exaggerating a bit; most days I do receive beautiful love from my students, even if it is not communicated in the same vulnerable, transparent ways as the love of the four-to-seven-year-olds I work with after school (minute-long hugs from high-schoolers? I don’t think so.) Let me just say that this year has got me thinking more about God’s expansive, unconditional love for humanity; in response to which I am always immediately humbled and convicted. To say that the only way we can love sacrificially is through God is an understatement. Not only has God never given up on me, despite the millions of times I have turned my back on him; but he has watched over me through all my desertions, and welcomed me back into his arms, like the father of the prodigal son, each and every time. And in addition to God and his perfect, unceasing love; I am blessed when I think of all of the people who have never given up on me. How many times have I screamed at my parents that I hated them and never wanted to see them again as long as I lived! (dramatic, I know)What if they had given up on me in those moments of moody, teenage ungratefulness? Or worse, when I screamed through the entire night as a colicky baby. (sorry mom!)Let’s just say my parents received their first “thank you” letter from me this year. (So to all those parents out there, it may or may not take 22 years for your child to thank you.)Store that away in your hearts! "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! Luke 6:32 So to my students, on those days which I become exasperated with you, I thank you in advance for teaching me to love.
