In June of 1988 I was about to leave Northern Kentucky to spend 10 weeks in Southern California serving as a missionary for the Baptist church . I told my dad that I was going there to “just love all those people in California .”
My dad said, “Well, if that’s all you do, you’ll be very much disappointed . You ought to think how you can let them love you. “ I didn’t understand. Dad said: “Most people have the ability to show superficial love, but few people allow others to love them.” In my journal from that day, I wrote: “I still don’t understand (what he means) but I shall.”
I know that Jesus not only loved the people that he met as he walked on the earth, but that he let people love him. One sinful woman met Jesus at a Pharisee’s house and wiped his feet with her hair and her tears. She kissed his feet—signs of her love that brought on the scorn of the religious people. Jesus told a parable and then said, “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
Are you making yourself available to be loved ? One of the ways that I’ve found that I can connect with people right now is not only by offering help but by asking for help. I’ve often made myself available to love others. Maybe I should equally focus on making myself available to be loved .
If you desire to be like Jesus, then open your arms and let people show you love, affection, and care.
