Do I even know the true definition of this anymore?
Everything of this world is constantly promising me love, yet is also constantly letting me down. Whether it is physical things I turn to in search for some sense of security, or the closest of my relationships, they all fail me.
But there is great news. There is something that will never fail us. A friend that does exemplify the true meaning of unconditional love. His name is Jesus.
When I hit an all time low, when I am running away from everything, when I am in the darkest of places, Jesus stays right by my side. When I feel like everyone else has forgotten me, or has run the opposite way in hopes to avoid me, Jesus is calling out my name. When I fall and cannot get back up, Jesus reaches out his hand to raise me up once again. Even when I am looking in every other place for comfort and security except for Him, when I disobey and blow him off, He remains the same. He continually loves me. That, is the definition of unconditional love.
“I loved you at your darkest” Romans 5:8
Jesus has a sense of humor I’ve realized. Sometimes He speaks to me through church services, and praise music..but then sometimes He speaks to me in humorous ways.
Meet Gracie, my lovely Labrador puppy (not exactly a puppy anymore).
There is no perfect example of unconditional love except Jesus, but He has provided me this gem as a reminded of what it looks like. See, no matter what I do, how many times I scream at her, how many times I forget to take her out because I’m “too busy”, or how many times I simply just ignore her presence because I have too much to do, she still loves me.
Last summer when I was still competitively running each day, I was injured during a run and was stuck laying and sitting for two weeks straight with over 30 stitches in my knee (I’ll spare you a picture of the actual battle wound, my coach said it looked like a shark bite). I was feeling so low, as I couldn’t run anymore, couldn’t even go outside much, or do the simple things I once took for granted. I felt like a lot of my friends didn’t understand what I was going through, and didn’t reach out to me in a time of need. But one thing exemplified love still (ignore my lovely just-got-done-crying-for-hours self).
It was the cutest thing. She is usually very rough, but she knew. And she slowly one leg at a time came into my lap as I sat at the computer chair with my leg elevated. It was like she knew she needed to be gentle, but she knew I needed some love right then and there.
Then the other day Jesus reminded me once again of His unconditional love through this amazing little pup of mine. I was “too busy” to give her any attention, and unfortunately, my stress got the best of me and I screamed at her when she began whining to go out. I didn’t have “time to waste” on her when I had organic chemistry that needed to be done (even though I made time to lay out and go in my pool). But even after screaming at her and striving to ignore her the best I could, she still showed me nothing but love. Even while sitting in my chair doing homework..
Whether it be through diving into His word today, or through something as silly as a pet, I hope God shows you the meaning of unconditional love today, as you realize just how special the gift He has to offer is<3
I’ll leave off with my prayer for all of you today..
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love
of Christ..” Ephesians 3:17-18