I was recently riveted by a news article that reported on a nursing home that had staged a protest outside of their facility. The residents were holding up signs that read,  “ I would rather die from Covid than loneliness”.
I was nearly moved to tears with an initial thought of “I would rather die loving them than protect them by being distant”. I could feel the heart of Jesus within me. I paused to ponder my expression of reckless love. As I mulled it over, I was reminded of a writing from Frances J. Roberts:
“One does not write what has already been written. One writes out of the storehouse of fresh revelation and his own personal knowledge gained through the painful experience of growth. You cannot escape the growing experience without forfeiting the other. You shall cease writing if you cease learning. You do not learn as you write but write as you learn. I would spare you if I could do so in love, but this kind of protecting love would be false and would rob you of much treasure. I only love you truly as I give you my best. My best cannot come to you without pain, even as it could not come to the Lord Jesus without pain”.
Ponder on these words this week and ask God to bring verses to mind that reflect His heart for people. I have shared a couple of verses that bubbled up in me:
“Now without faith, it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6 CSB
“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.”
John 19:25-27 CSB
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