The Power of Loving

I posted this brief article yesterday on my Facebook page.

God works invisibly in us, giving us the will and the power to love. Loving others is fulfilling one of God’s purposes for us.

Loving others goes beyond loving those who are close to us. It goes beyond loving those who love us.

Loving others means loving those who have no particular interest or sympathy toward us, have ambivalent feelings about us, or hate and despise us. It means loving those who do not welcome or want our love.

In some cases, our love may make a difference in someone’s life, in other cases, it will not. We, however, must keep on loving.

This leads us to the question, “Why love someone if our love will have no effect on them? What is the point?”

While our love may not transform the person at whom it is directed, it will transform us. We will become more compassionate, more forgiving, more generous, more patient, and more tenderhearted. We will blossom and become our better selves.

Our kindness also may rub off on someone. If others pick up our habits, it will make the world a kinder place.

We will be emulating God himself and showing ourselves to be his children. Children resemble their parents. We will internalize God’s love for us and show it in our lives in our love of others.

Loving can bring about healing, dispelling our own sadness and ameliorating our pain. It can do the same thing for others.

We love those who have hurt us because deep down inside they may be hurting too. We love them because it is the loving thing to do.

Let us not underestimate the power of loving. It is a power that comes from God.