I put all different types of random thoughts in the "Notes" app on my phone. I was going through it looking to see if I had written any ideas down when I came across a prayer that I had been thinking of last semester. It said:

I want to be able to love others so well that I enjoy celebrating them more than I enjoy being celebrated.

When I read this I was convicted that I have not taken any steps in that direction. I have not sought out ways to love people, celebrate them, and encourage them. I wrote that prayer down and then just went on living my very self-centered life that sought out my own recognition and attention.

But this is not the life that my sweet Jesus demonstrated, nor is it the life we are commanded to live. Jesus fed people, He taught them, He prayed for others, He had compassion for them, He healed them, and He died for them and rose again. He loved them, and He continues to do so. He is an encourager, a friend, a savior, and a servant.

I have this awful habit of not loving people well because they don't love me back. It's a pretty broken way of thinking and a sad excuse, but its one that I unconsciously use nonetheless. It leaves me unfulfilled because I have missed an opportunity to love like God loves.

I was designed and called to share a love that loves even when that love isn't mutual. Jesus did not just love the people that loved Him back. He loved those that mocked and ridiculed Him. He prayed for those who had crucified Him. He died for the very ones who nailed Him to the cross and all of us who have sinned against the Father, and yet His love never waivers.

Another example of this sweet love we are commanded to live out is how our incredible God has loved us. He desires our hearts, pursues us, and seeks us out even when we run from Him into darkness. How deep the Father's love for us. I want to love like the Father loves.

So as we are temporarily living in this broken world full of self-promotion and living in this broken body that desires to love selfishly, I pray that people not loving us back wouldn't hinder us from loving others well... we weren't called to love our neighbors only under the condition that they reciprocate that love. Let's encourage and serve. Let's celebrate and find joy in other's success. Let's care about their good days and bad days. Let's love well.

Let's love how Jesus loves. Sacrificially.

Let's love how the Father loves. Relentlessly.

Let's love how we are commanded to love and let's love in action and service.