California, August 17, 2019 – Massachusetts, August 17, 2024
Yesterday, I attended the last night of a mental health series talk in Providence, RI. The topic was “Love.” One of the questions asked was “are you willing to die for someone you love?” Because essentially that will prove that you love that person unconditionally. This act of love is written in John 15:13: Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. This is perhaps one of the most beautiful love acts written by John, whose friend ‘Jesus’ died to save him, and all of us. John experienced receiving unconditional love firsthand.
Love is what we yearn for, and desire to give, but really struggle with.
I remember questioning at a young age, how can two people like each other? and what is the possibility that this person finds that person at this specific time, and they like each other, it just can’t be that easy. I was probably 6 or 7, and at such young age I was already questioning the possibility of likeness and love, impossible I thought! There has to be something more! Well, thank God I grew up, and experienced the impossible scenario of attraction, it was real! The first time I was introduced to a guy that wanted to meet me, I froze. Then I understood why he always seemed to randomly appear. It is a great feeling to be liked, but it is the easiest stage of what could develop into love. Liking someone doesn’t mean much unless there is commitment.
Unconditional love is supernatural, as much as we think we “love,” we are very incapable to perfectly or unconditionally love. Last night’s summary was that love can only come from above because “God is love.” But that is just being aware of it, because in order to have unconditional love you must first experience it yourself, so said John. There was a time when I believed heartedly that I had experienced unconditional love, I had prayed that God will take years from my life so that this one friend would use them in case he needed them (I really thought he needed the extra years). The following year I was fearful to even talk to other guys, because I thought that my life was going to be cut short, literally. Now you may laugh about this, I find it comical myself, but what I was truly experiencing after that prayer was fear. Fear is completely contrary to love!
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18). I understand unconditional love today, but because I am loved, not because I have loved unconditionally. I have experienced it by understanding who God is – knowing and feeling his presence emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally. Just today, at the turning of my 5th baptism year, as I walked and talked with Jesus, a goose landed on the lawn nearby, so I asked Him, can “she” see you? He said, oh yes! So, I stopped to wait for Him and imaged Him running to the goose and petting it. Later he said, everywhere you look (nature), you can see me, I’ve never left you, and I’m here, I will always be here. Now that, that is not romantic cheap love, those are the most beautiful words you can hear from a friend. Friendships require time and dedication, the more time you spend with God, the freer you will be to learn how to love unconditionally, it is a lifetime commitment.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:11-13).
Your friend that loves you,
Melody
PS. Thank you for helping me understand love, in the purest of form, it is true: “what a beautiful name it is, the name of Jesus Christ my King!
He didn’t want heaven without us, so Jesus, you brought heaven down… my sin was great, your love was greater, so what can separate us now?”
Tapia 