Love Endures All

Featured ~ Sowmya Gali ~ 1 Comment

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Innumerable messages preached, books written, poems rhymed, songs sung, sculptures carved, and wars battled over this four letter word – love. Yet mankind still searches for that all- satisfying, all-sacrificing, selfless love in this world from another human being or self-made idols. Despite knowing that God is love, we are still seeking a kind of love that is only fathomable, and unwilling to dive in to the depths of God’s love that is unfathomable.

Why is it that we are not willing to succumb to God’s love when it is within our reach? Is it because of the fear that we will be transformed? Is it reluctance to direct that love outwards like God instead of inwards? Do we consider that that kind of love is just a fable when it is utterly impossible to be extremely unselfish? Whatever the reasons, until we tread into the waters of His love, we will not experience the superiority of His selfless, all-forgiving, all-enduring, encompassing love.

It is indeed hard to die to self when we taste God’s love. However, not in our strength but His. When Jesus appeared to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias after His resurrection, He asked Peter specifically if he loved him thrice keeping in account of the three times Peter denied Jesus. After affirming Jesus that indeed he loved him, twice, Peter could not confirm of his love for Jesus the third time. He simply said, “Lord, you know all things.” Jesus knew the kind of love Peter has towards Him. Jesus’ love for Peter was enough for Peter at that moment (St. John 21: 15-17). Jesus’ command for Peter was to feed and take care of His sheep.

We need to step into a realization that indeed we are immeasurably-loved, highly-favored by God despite of our numerous shortcomings. When His light shines, darkness in every corner of hearts will be dispelled forever. Just like Peter, we should realize that it is not our love towards God that is important but His love for us. When our focus is on Him, transformation is easy. We will no longer be troubled when wading through troubled waters. Our attitudes will change drastically. We are no longer selfish, mean, short-tempered, etc., but sacrificial, kind, sweet-tempered, loving unconditionally, enduring everything with a smile on our face. That’s because we will be walking clones of Jesus on earth. We will be wearing His robe of righteousness, walking & behaving like Him so much so that others will know that we are Christians by our LOVE.

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A Heartbroken Man

~ Sowmya Gali

The drive to the school took fifteen minutes. The kids made it through the door as the second bell rang. Nithya dashed ahead of her brother while Nitin hugged his father and waved good bye to the doctor before he reluctantly went through the gate. Prashanth waved him off, urging him to hurry up.

“Do you drop them off every day, Mr. Kumar?”

He nodded in affirmation.

“Is it hard to see them go?” she asked, standing behind him.

“Well, it is hard to be away from my kids even for a minute. We are very close. It is hard on me because my daughter is at a stage where my very presence near her is embarrassing when she is with her friends. On the other hand, my son is still clingy. So, you see,” shrugged Prashanth, putting into gear and headed towards their town. “Either way, I am saddened.”

“Does Mrs. Kumar feel the same?” asked Vandana.

Prashanth pressed on the accelerator. Vandana instinctively gripped the handle on the door. After a few minutes, Prashanth slowed down seeing how erect she was sitting.

“Sorry, Dr. Mittur. I shouldn’t have sped like that. It’s just that…,” he trailed off.

“That is alright, Mr. Kumar. I am used to fast cars and rugged terrain like this,” said Vandana, sitting back relaxed.

“My wife passed away a few years ago, Dr. Mittur,” blurted Prashanth looking straight ahead with tear-filled eyes.

Vandana, shocked to hear the news, instinctively covered his hand with hers that was resting on the gear rod. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Kumar,” said Vandana, genuinely sensing the pain that this man must have endured. His hand gripped hard on the gear rod. His every muscle tensed. Seeing his children, seeing her in them must be really hard on him. She covered his hand with hers, gripping it gently for a few minutes. She pulled away as she realized she had her hand on him longer than necessary.

She felt blood rise to her cheeks. ‘What must he think of her acting like that?’ Embarrassed, she turned her face away from him, pretending to see the sights they were passing through.

“You must sometime tell me about your days in the Army, Dr. Mittur,” said Prashanth.

She looked to him, suddenly feeling her pulse increase rapidly. She held the door handle tightly as she stiffened. She noticed from the corner of her eyes that Prashanth was looking straight ahead and not at her. She composed herself quickly trying hard to shove those memories to the back of her mind as well as stop those threatening tears to slide down her cheek. She swallowed hard as the lump pushed its way up.

“Most certainly, Mr. Kumar,” she said, gracefully smiling.

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