Tip of My Iceberg

Three of our kids and their families live in the Orlando area, so they’re at our home quite a bit. The older ones often drop by for snacks, chats, or just some space where little siblings aren’t running around. I’ve gotten into the habit of telling them as they walk out the front door, “Bye! Love you lots!” And they’ll respond, “Love you.”

It’s not just a habit; it’s a reminder to me that it’s important to let my loved ones know how I feel about them. It’s significant for others you care for to know they matter enough for you to say something.

It wasn’t a common thing for us to hear growing up. I knew my parents loved me and my siblings. Dad was more verbal in affirming his love for us. Mom–not so much. I learned early that her upbringing in a strong and dutiful German Catholic home wasn’t a place where she heard that phrase much. For her, love was what you did in actions for others. Food on the table, clothes to wear, a roof over our heads–those were acts of love my parents provided for us.

When my family leaves my home now, I want their ears to hear how much I love them. I want them to be reminded that, no matter what happens, I will always love them.

Love might not always feel like a chosen response. With the younger grands, their parents often say as they’re leaving, “Tell Nana and Papa bye and that you love them.” Like little myna birds, they hug us and say, “Love you!”

We all love many things. Family. Children. Football. Soccer. Hamburgers. Ice cream. We use the same word for love for each thing, even though loving my family is more significant to me than loving ice cream.

The Greeks understood nuances. They had eight words for love, four of which were primary. Eros was passionate, romantic love. Phileo was deep, loyal friendship affection shared between close friends. Storge was natural familial love, between spouses, parents, and children. Agape was unconditional, selfless divine love; that is how God loves us.

The gospel itself is God’s declaration of love for people who often could care less about Him. He sent His only Son to live with us, to take our place in death so we could be acceptable to Him and live forever with Him in heaven.

That’s unlimited love.

Love is how He would like us to respond to Him.

A teacher of religious law tried to trap Jesus by asking Him what the most important command in the law of Moses was. Jews felt the whole law to be important; this man tried to trip Jesus into commenting on the law when what He’d been preaching was grace.

Jesus made it clear what was important.

“And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:30-31.

God loves us perfectly; such love, without demands or restrictions, is a love that encourages a returned love. Being loved lavishly–wide, long, high, and deep–is something we won’t find on earth. People will always let us down. God can’t; it’s against His character. His love for us is a solid allegiance to us, an affection that is reflected in His actions and attention toward us.

He longs to remind us that He loves us.

I never want my family to forget how very much I love them. I don’t just remind them for their encouragement; I remind myself what really matters. Loving others.

After all, what the world really needs is love.