5 APRIL

TURBULENCE IN THE AIR: LOVE

“Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

Apart from turbulence in the air that brings the reality of life and death, in everyday life, there are things that could bring on the same reactions–for example, certain illnesses and challenges of life, embarking on a journey etc. I remember the story of a husband who each time he was about to travel would show his wife his important documents and as soon as he got into the car or plane would send a message: “I love you”. Yet, those words were not usually part of their lives. Why not?

God still tells us several times in words and in ways that He loves us. Gary Chapman wrote about the five love languages: Words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time and physical touch. Our Lord shows us love in all these ways.

A story is told of a man who went to a flower shop to order and send flowers to his mother on Mothers’ Day. He found a girl crying because she had only $0.75 but the flowers cost $2.00. The man paid and took her to the cemetery where the girl placed the flowers on a freshly dug grave. The man drove back to the shop, collected the flowers, went to a supermarket, filled his trunk with groceries and drove 200 km to his mum’s house. He hugged her, told her how much he loved her, cleaned out her home, and sat on her porch, drinking tea all afternoon and enjoying old tales and jokes while holding her hands. This became a regular occurrence. His love was tangible till the end.

ACTION: Demonstrate true, practical love to people around you on a daily basis.

PRAYER: Lord, help me in areas where I have failed the love tests and grant me grace to speak and show love in practical ways to the lovely people you have placed in my life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.