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Love- Beyond the Surface

It is easy to profess that we love someone, the true measure of love, however, goes beyond the surface. Love looks beyond what people do or who they are. I met a great man recently and he shared some of his experiences in life with those of us who were with him at the time. Despite the several things he talked about, one thing I held on to is how he has been able to look beyond the flaws of people or the hurtful things anyone has done to him by reminding himself of at least one good thing each person has ever done to him.

He started by saying that we all have the tendency of deliberately disappointing others yet we do not expect others to disappoint us even when it is beyond their control. This reminds me of the story of a student who missed a number of tests in school due to a brief illness. The moment she was strong enough to resume back in school, she started taking each test, one after another. By the time she got to the last test, she was so exhausted that she told the teacher point blank that she did not have answers to the questions that were placed before her. As much as the teacher tried to help her pass the paper by reminding her of some things that could point to the answers, the student insisted she was clueless.

The expected reaction to this kind of situation is that the teacher should fail such a student. It was the opposite in this situation as the teacher chose to grade the student an A, saying that she was sure the student would have done well if she had the chance to write the test at the time others did. This points at how just one past good deed can be put into consideration in a bid to forgive or render the help needed to a person. The decision of the teacher was based on the girl’s antecedents and her academic track record, not the present situation.

As I pondered on this, I asked a friend if he has ever come across someone who has nothing good that he can remember or consider when such a person does something to hurt him. To my surprise, the response he gave me was yes! I could not understand how possible that is, so I decided to probe further. By the time he was done talking, considering that I know the people he used as a case study, I took my time to ensure that I made excuses for those people and helped him to see at least one good thing they ever did to him. If you ask, “did you succeed in doing this?”, my answer will be that ” I tried my best, but….”
As difficult as it sometimes feels, putting into consideration at least one good thing a person ever did for us can help us look beyond their shortcomings or mistakes. People truly mess up, despitefully use others, care less about others, are selfish, inconsiderate, unthankful and so much more. The question, however, is, “Is this all that there is to such persons?” There is a need to call wrong doings wrong but there must be the willingness to look beyond this and see people the way God sees them – those created in His image and after His likeness. ( GENESIS 1:26-27).
Love indeed covers a multitude of sins. (1 PETER 4:8). It dwells on the good no matter how little, rather than the bad, no matter how big. Always remember, Jesus came to pay the debt we owed, it was a debt so great we could not pay but He saw the reconciliation of mankind to God as a medium to see more sons and daughters return to the Father rather than a rebellious and undeserving people who are destined for destruction. (COLOSSIANS 1:20-22 )
Love goes beyond the surface and chooses to look deeper instead. Let us love just as it is expected of us by the One who is Love Himself – God. (1 JOHN 4:8)

 

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Temitope Akinrotimi
Temitope Akinrotimi
Temitope is the founder of thesoulmeal.com, an online platform that she shares with her God-given spiritual family and friends. She is a speaker, teacher and youth counselor. She is passionate about inspiring people to find their identity in Christ. Catch her interviewing inspiring leaders on Tongue of the Learned Podcast

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