I felt a sense of dread as I leaned on my husband and hobbled toward my son’s front door. It happens every time we visit him and his family. A familiar scuffling behind that door made me brace myself. When the door opened, Ruby rushed at me excitedly, nearly knocking me over.
“Ruby, go lie down!” I yelled.
With her head down, she retreated to the loveseat in front of the window and sighed as she laid her head on her big paws, looking at me sadly.
Ruby is a seventy-pound Ridgeback Shepherd mix and the sweetest dog I’ve ever known. But despite my reprimands, she follows me around my son’s house, seeking my affection and approval.
Dogs love without condition. They don’t care whether you like them or not. They love devoid of control and wear their emotions like little children.
Like dogs, small children don’t care what we look like. They don’t mind if we’re disabled. But we must teach them to be wary of strangers, or they will embrace anyone who gives them attention.
Jesus probably means we should love people as children do. He wants us to look past skin color, size, shape, ethnicity, ability, disability, or prickly personality and peer into their hearts as God does. After all, how can we spread the good news and invite others into God’s kingdom if we don’t greet others with enthusiasm and genuine unrestrained love?
We must not wave off people who offend us but consider how much God loves them and wants us to draw them toward Him. We dare not send them off in sorrow.
What are some things that remind you of God’s love for everyone?
(photo courtesy of pixabay.com.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Anne Hughes is an eMentor who trains and assists individuals with disabilities to find work-from-home remote-call-center jobs. When not working, she writes, creates faith memes to share, and spends time with her family.