You are loved

The lecture for the day was about love. I decided to use the opportunity to talk about my Father and about how much he loves me. We sat in a circle in the field, and it was time for me to open up.

image_pdfimage_print

I told them that when I was their age, I felt like I wasn’t loved. I felt that no one cared about me. I was abused by my stepdad, so there was no love from him. I told them that I didn’t even know that if I loved myself. I didn’t know what love was because I never received it, so I never gave it.   

Their faces registered shock. One of the kids was talking. Through a translator, he asked how could I be so happy if I never experienced love. I told them that I wasn’t done with my story. I told them when my mother was going through a divorce, it was a difficult time for me. I didn’t know what to do or who to turn to. I had a friend that was always happy, and I asked him why he was happy. He said it was because God loved him. I thought, at that time, it was strange. But I discovered what he meant.

I felt God’s love. I told them that God loves me. I know he loves me, because he tells me all the time. Even though at times I sin and don’t listen to him, he forgives me and loves me. I told them I experience love through God, and he’s the reason I am joyful and grateful every day. His love is what keeps me going.

Their eyes were open and attentive. After we finished our stories, I got up. Aaron reached up to me and told me I was very interesting and clever. I realized that I had to love them. I had to love them like my Father loves me. I’m not here just for a vacation. I’m on a mission to have them experience what love is, even if it has to be shown by me.
 
Kevin, a student at Texas A&M University in Kingsville, served with Go Now Missions in East Asia. His last name is withheld for security reasons.


We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.

Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.

More from Baptist Standard