Have you ever loved someone so much that it hurt? So much that you can't understand how no one can hear it just screaming out of you as it threatens to overwhelm you? So much that you would sacrifice anything for them, even your life?
At the beginning of the semester, I began asking God to guard my heart, to show me whom to love and how to guard my affections. And recently, I'm really beginning to see what relationships in my life mean the most to me.
First--my family. I love my family so much. They have supported and encouraged me for nineteen years, and I would not be who I am today without them. My mom and dad have sacrificed so much for me, have prayed for me. My little sister challenges me so much to really know what I believe, to share my faith, and to "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."(Phil3:14). She challenges me to give everything I have to everything I attempt, and I'm so thankful for her :) I would die for my family.
My mentors. Over the years, I have had many mentor-figures in my life, mostly older students that have invested in me and given me advice to help me grow in Christ. Right now, I have two people that I consider my mentors, one of which has played that role in my life for about three and a half years now. She's a main reason I came to know Christ, and now that she's learning what it is to love and be loved by one she could marry, I'm so excited for her :) The other current mentor in my life is one who really welcomed me to the college world. Last semester she adopted me as her "little," even though neither of us are in a tribe. She constantly encourages me and teaches me and shows me how much Christ has to offer. She is recently ENGAGED!! and I'm excited beyond words about her beginning this next chapter in her life. Both of these young women are so in love with Christ, and their love for Him overflows to the people and the world around them. I would die for them.
My "little brother." He has so much potential, so much love for Christ, so much leadership that's just waiting to be used, practically bursting to escape from him. He's two and a half years younger than I am, but he's my best friend in the whole world, and my life would be a much darker place without him in it. He's who I can call to randomly play Mario, or go on bike rides, or play piano duets, or teach me a new card game. Out of love for him, I go to his house until 12:30 at night to help him with lab reports, or make him cupcakes for his birthday, or encourage him when he's having a bad day. He's been my best friend for a long time, but especially since Christmas, I've realized how much I love this boy. And it's so different from romantic love, but almost the same. I would do absolutely anything for him, and I know he would do the same for me. I can honestly say that I would die for him.
The last person I'm going to talk about has actually entered my life fairly recently. I've grown really close to her this semester in a way that I haven't with anyone else. My whole life, I've wondered what it would be like to have a big sister. Not one that adopts you in a tribe, but one whom you love so much, you're amazed. I can go to her for anything at all, and she listens, comforts, rebukes, consoles, gives advice, prays for me, listens to God and shows me what it's like to really walk in step with the Spirit. She impacts so many people and doesn't even realize it, and demonstrates God's love in such a beautiful way. She can tell when something's bothering me, is relentless until she finds out what it is, and gives the best hugs in the whole world. She's constantly teaching me, and I'm learning from her how to be a big sister that can lead my little sister to know Christ. The bond I have formed with this young woman is one that I don't believe will be easily broken, and I know it has changed my life. I have learned what it is to love so deeply, I don't even know how to express it. I would die for my "big sister."
But even greater than the love that I have for these people is the love that my God has for me and for you. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life."(John3:16). My God loved me enough to not only die Himself, but to sacrifice His Son for me. He knows what it is to love so deeply, He would do anything to keep us, anything to give us life. He gave His Son, a third of Himself, to become our payment, our sin offering, our bridge to the Father. I may think that I know what it is to love, and you may think so as well. But know this--we cannot know love until we know our Father. "God is love."(1John4:8)
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since Go so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us."
1 John 4:7-12
"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses all knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Ephesians 3:17-19
Love til it hurts, then keep loving. Always remember that our God's love never runs out, so there's always more to receive, always more to give. He created you and loves you enough to die for you.
Happy Valentine's Day.
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