Delighting in Showing Love
Megan Breedlove 
When I was preparing to drop Timmy off in the church nursery, I wasn’t preparing for a God-moment. I was thinking more about would he balk at going inside this week and I’m already late; how can I make this happen quickly? But a God-moment is just what I got.
As Timmy entered the nursery, willingly this time, one of the younger boys (I’ll call him James) was seated at a nearby table coloring. He looked up as Timmy entered the room. “Bubby!” he said excitedly. (I found out later from his mom that he calls all boys Bubby.) “Bubby!” he repeated two or three times, a huge grin on his face. Then he scrambled down from his chair and came around the end of the table, arms outstretched toward Timmy.
Timmy looked puzzled for a moment, then (thank you, God) reached his arms out towards James. They hugged each other and stood clasped together for a few seconds before James stepped back and smiled up at Timmy.
My heart was full. I loved it that someone was so excited to see my son, and that it obviously made his day for Timmy just to walk through the door. And I loved it that James’ delight compelled him not only to greet Timmy enthusiastically and smile, but to get up and hug him—to do something about his feelings.
You know, I bet God feels the same way when He sees us showing delighted love to one of His children. We all want our children to be accepted and loved, and God is certainly no different. He delights in love; He is love. And when He sees us acting toward one another as we were meant to act, He rejoices—not just because we obeyed Him, but because He knows that His children will reap the benefits of each other’s love, just as Timmy reaps the benefit of James’.
In fact, during the Last Supper—the last real chance Jesus would have to share anything extensive with His disciples—He made it a point to give them a new commandment. Love one another, He said. He went on to say that in this way, a watching world will know by our love for one another that we are Jesus’ disciples. We usually interpret these sayings as if Jesus had said this: Love one another, because that way, everybody will know that you are My disciples.
But there’s no “because” in the original Greek. What I think Jesus meant was this: Love one another. I want each of you to receive love from one another, so treat your brothers right. And if you do, this will be so revolutionary that everybody will recognize that you belong to Me.
You know how you feel when someone shows love to your child? That’s how God feels when His children receive love, too.
So, let’s be practical. Whom can you reach out to today? To whom can you show your love, and delight in their presence? Whom can you come alongside and encourage (which is another form of love)?
When you do any of these things, you will not only touch the heart of the person receiving your love and encouragement, you will touch their (and your) Father’s heart.
It doesn’t have to be something big. Sometimes all it takes to show love is a text, a hand on a shoulder, or a listening posture (without being on some electronic device at the same time) as they talk.
Will you do it?
John 13:34-35—“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (ESV)
Six weeks or so ago, our church held a week of Vacation Bible School. The church was full of kids of all ages, from nursery age to rising sixth graders. Children entering seventh grade or above served as youth aides, assigned to assist the adults in making things run smoothly.
Imagine you’re a seven-year-old child who has just received a gift from someone. You’re happy about that, of course. You thank the giver, and you open the box.
Have you ever looked around your house and wondered, Where in the world did I get all this stuff???
Yesterday, on Father’s Day, I called my father and told him how much he meant to me. I posted a photo of us on Facebook with a caption that told him again that I loved him. I posted a tribute to my husband, who’s been the wonderful father I knew he would be, and a note of thanks and love to my father-in-law.
I still remember what my favorite donut was when I was a little girl: the strawberry icing one at Dunkin’ Donuts. I loved that donut. I chose it every time I had the chance.
Last week, my three middle children—Kenny, Lindsey, and Jessica—and I went to see a baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington, where the Texas Rangers play. Although I can’t quote you any statistics or tell you much about the history of baseball, I do understand quite a bit about how the game is played, including things like strategy and rules.
The other day, I was sitting at the computer when Timmy came into the room. “Do you want to sit on my lap?” I asked him.
As far as I’m concerned, potty training is the worst part of parenting. Cleaning up vomit in the middle of the night? Not a problem. Changing overflowing, dirty diapers? No biggie. But trying to teach a child how to use the potty and then convince him to do so? The very thought makes me shudder.
I hope your children told you on Mother’s Day how much they love you. I know that if they gave you carefully printed cards expressing their love, those cards meant the world to you. And if they made you breakfast in bed, or served you in some special way, I’m sure your heart rejoiced, as mine did when my children did these things for me.