Tuesday, December 23, 2025
LOVE
By Marcia Hyde
My husband, my five children, along with myself, make a household of seven. And I can recall a great many instances when our attempts at walking somewhere as a family turned into something more like a bowl of milk with seven Cheerios in it. Envision two or three people about 20 yards ahead, a few in the middle, and two or three people about 20 yards behind. People who have loyal affection for each other don’t always keep “in lock step” with each other, do they? You see, I think there are some attributes of Love that the Apostle Paul forgot to include in his definition of Love when he wrote his first letter to the church at Corinth: Love is messy. Love requires being with people. And Love requires doing so intentionally.
When we are walking as a family and the tiniest member of my household can’t keep up, the ones with the longer legs often have to backtrack to allow her to stay with the group. Sometimes we come to a fork in the path and there’s disagreement about which way to go...arguments even. It’s not neat and tidy; it’s a bit messy. Sometimes, someone lost their water bottle and wants a sip of mine. But, someone always ends up selflessly choosing to give in, we manage to make it work, and we complete our journey without anyone even being given up for adoption or becoming estranged from the family. Try to recall a memory of a moment in time when you knew you were especially loved by someone or by a group of people. It is almost 100% certain that the memory of love you’re recalling right now includes being in some kind of close proximity with that person or a group of people. That knowledge of being loved did not happen because the other person did nothing and ignored you. It happened because people made selfless choices and actions. They extended an invitation for you to be near. In order for us to give love and receive love, we have to intentionally invite people to be near us, place ourselves in the presence of others, communicate with them, and make selfless choices.
You see, God did that with us: this messy, intentional, people-y kind of love.
He did it when he chose to physically dwell among humans by becoming as one of us– born as a new baby in a stable, no less! He did it when Jesus walked with people on dirt roads, washed feet, ate with sinners & outcasts, healed the sick & hurting, allowed himself to be betrayed, and died willingly on a cross.
During Advent, we find ourselves with abundant opportunities to very intentionally love God and love others. Ask God right now to help you be in line with His heart...to help you notice the needs of others. Is there someone in your community who’s fallen 20 yards behind? Is there someone who could use some extra hand-holding or encouragement right now? Be present with God in prayer and ask Him to show you how you can be present for others...even if it involves taking some dirt roads, letting go of your itinerary for the journey or agenda for the day. God might lead you to invite a lonely person to your Christmas gathering. Most importantly, don’t shy away from telling people Who inspires your love.