HopeFul Reflections

Love is funny. I don’t mean a specific type of love, I mean the all encompassing term love. I mean the love you show your family, your friends, and your neighbors. I wanted to speak on a form of love I think may not be spoken of often. The type of love that’s dependent more on than the giver and is more of an example of generosity than a symphony between two people.

When a man plants a seed, he does so in hopes that the seed grows and becomes a specific plant. He may have aspirations that the plant bear fruit or look a certain way. When he plants the seed he does so with hope. He has no guarantee of the outcome of his efforts, yet he persists. When he plants the seed he cannot speak with the plant. He cannot ask if he is doing enough for the plant. He cannot ask the plant to tell him the future of its growth. He cannot ask the plant if the plant cares for the man’s efforts. Despite this, the man waters the plant, ensures adequate sunlight, and tries to prevent harm from reaching the plant.

Sometimes the love we give others is more of a gift than a shared entity. There may be times when our neighbors are unable to engage in the love we are accustomed to which involves a sense of community and fellowship. Sometimes our neighbors are overburdened by the struggles of life, sometimes they are unaccustomed to receiving love, and sometimes they may be able to receive love but are unable to express love on their side. This is not a failure on their part, it is just a situation that requires us to be more understanding and patient. It is an opportunity for us to show how persisting our love is without the need for something in return. It is our chance to show that our love is not conditional. I hope you all find a seed to plant and water it when you can.

-JKG