The heart is on our ornament today. How fitting it is for the season of Advent. Zimmerman uses 1John 4:7-8, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love.”
This verse speaks to me today. I hear God the Father (or Mother!) say these words. Essentially they say, “kids, be nice!”
John writes that all love comes from God. I don’t see any conditions placed on that statement, just love comes from God! And maybe even more important, everyone who loves…knows God. Again, no conditions…not a certain type of love, just love.
When we think of our faith and how we treat everyone we meet, this verse should come to the forefront of our minds. Every person we see comes from love, they love their partners and families and friends. They know God because of this love.
We must, in turn, love them, no conditions applied.
That means that every person we encounter, regardless of their gender, belief system or ethnic makeup deserves our love.
Most importantly, we need to realize that if we do not love our neighbor, we do not know God!
This is a lot to think about as I hang the heart ornament on my tree. But the lesson is very simple.
“Kids, be nice!”
The Last Lap (and what comes next) 