The Language of Love

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “World.” Write for five minutes; unedited.

The first thing I thought of when I saw the word prompt was the song “We are the World” by Michael Jackson. These words from the chorus kept replaying in my mind “We are the world. We are the children.” Yes, we are God’s children scattered all over the world. Throughout the world, as God’s children, the language of love is one that is universal.

Tonight I was working at church with the kids who are attending the National Youth Gathering and their parents on a fundraiser. One of them brought their little brother with her. This little boy is so kind and polite. He constantly reminds me of the power of love. I was going to the kitchen to grab some stuff and he ran after me. Then later, he came up to me and gave me a hug. He also kept holding my hand and kissing it as we were walking to the janitor’s closet to get a garbage bag. This little boy’s actions remind me of the universal power of love…a love that is shared all over the world.

My friend Heather and her husband David have spent the last several years in Japan where Heather was teaching English. It was always such a joy to read about their experience on the other side of the world. I even sent them a package that didn’t make it to them. When it arrived back at my house, the box looked like it had been through heck. I wondered where in the world that box had been. Now Heather and David are back in the States, Heather shared a sweet memory book with me that her kids shared with her. Another picture of the universal language of love.

*Five years ago, my friend Renee and her husband Ben and Ben’s cousin Jon traveled to Haiti. While they were on that side of the world, the Haiti earthquake occurred. Ben lost his life that day. After the aftermath of the earthquake, Jon and Renee were wrapped in the arms of the Haiti people. They took the blankets off of their backs and shared them with Jon and Renee. Now Jon and Renee are married and have a little boy. Another image of the universal language of love!

There is a lot of turmoil in the world. But God brings about God’s peace and justice; a peace and justice that we continually pray for in the world…especially as we hear the news stories–ISIS, Caitlyn Jenner, and so much more. The truth, I believe, is that God calls us to be a “voice and not an echo.” God continually calls us to share God’s love with the world. We may not always agree but God calls us to love Caitlyn Jenner even when we don’t understand her decisions.

God sent his son Jesus as the example for us all. Jesus was always turning the world upside down. Jesus was always sitting with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus was continually inviting all of God’s people, all around the world, to sit at the table of grace; where we fill up and spill out for the kingdom.

*This is where my five minutes stopped.

28 thoughts on “The Language of Love”

  1. So glad to find your post through the link up. God's love echoes throughout the world and even in the brokenness we can find it. Thank you for sharing your experiences and those of people you love. We should be known as ambassador's of God's love.

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  2. You share here that love is always accompanied by action. It is more than words. It reaches out, it has a backbone, it sticks around when times get tough. Most importantly, it flows from God and into us so that we can share with others.

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  3. This is great, andlove is what we breathe…if we don't breathe it back out, it does us no good.

    Interestingly, I thought about "Feed The World", and the line "…tonight be glad it's them instead of you."

    A lot of people think that's selfish, 'better you than me, turkey!', but it's really not. I'm in a bit of trouble physically, as I write this…and you SHOULD be glad it's not you. I wouldn't wish this on you, or anyone.

    Nothing wrong with gratitude, because it's the best soil for growing love.

    Here, of course, from FMF.

    http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2015/06/your-dying-spouse-17-new-world-five.html

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    • Oh Andrew. Your words always remind me of how blessed I am. I wish I could take the pain away for you and your family. I love the idea that gratitude is the best soil for growing love. I think you are spot on. Thanks for stopping by friend. My prayers continue to be with you!

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  4. I liked all the stories you shared! God's children are truly everywhere and it's amazing to see him at work! And I'm glad he chooses us to be part of it and share his love with others! Happy Friday to you!

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    • Thanks Katha! It truly is amazing to see God's children at work everywhere. I too am glad that God chooses us to be a part of it and share God's love with others. Hope you had a beautiful weekend!

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  5. Tara what beautiful examples of love. I teared up reading about your friends who went through the Haiti earthquake. And the reminder to love those who are hurting is always timely. I've been praying for Caitlyn Jenner and others who've made these sorts of choices. God's love transcends our understanding. Hopefully we can be Jesus wtih skin on to those in our world, loving as He does.

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    • Thanks Jeanne! My friends in Haiti usually bring tears to my eyes too. It is so amazing to see how life has come out of death…how hope has arisen out of devastation in that situation. I too have been praying for Caitlyn Jenner. Yes indeed God's love transcends our understand. I mean how many times did Jesus sit with tax collectors, sinners, etc. He was never afraid to break bread with the outcasts, the downtrodden, etc. Yes, I too hope and pray we can be Jesus with skin on to those in our world…loving as Jesus does!

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  6. I like how you said that we are called to be a voice and not an echo. We have enough echos as it is in this world, and God calls us to be His voice. Thank you for sharing and for being a blessing through #FMF!

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    • Samantha, those words are on a t-shirt I once bought at a Christian music concert. I love them because they remind me of how I/we should live our lives. God does call us to be God's voice in the world. Thanks for stopping by friend.

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  8. Tara, I enjoyed reading your stories of love from different places. It's true, God's love can be found all over the world. May we all be carriers of His love. Blessings to you!

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  12. I love how you often think of songs that go with the word prompts. I do that too and started thinking of the songs, "Place In This World," by Michael W. Smith and the "Greater" song by MercyMe.

    Thank you for sharing that beautiful story as well. Something so tragic happens and yet something so wonderful came out of it. Amazing!

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    • Thanks Carrie! It is fun to come up with a song and video to go with the FMF word prompt. Yes, it truly is awesome to look back and see the amazingness that has come out of that tragedy.

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  14. Yay, love you stories of worldwide love — of people wrapping blankets around us, of tangible beat-up boxes, and the hand-holding from a sweet little boy. Thanks so much for sharing your story and others'!

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