Last weekend, a friend gave me a copy of the book Letters to my Mother by former Colombian presidential candidate and hostage Ingrid Betancourt. Little did I know that her release would make headlines just days later.
The book's purpose is to mobilize the consciousness of the world and to call for the release of all hostages. It has served its purpose well. (Simply google Ingrid Betancourt's name to read some 4,600,000 posts and articles for background.) Betancourt's own words of profound gratitude are filled with humble celebration and love!
The theme I came away with after reading the book was that it is Love that saves us. Betancourt's passion and love for her mother and her children and many others stand out like a lighthouse.
Love and persistent hope was what sustained her and her family and loved ones. It is the fuel that brings change to any human situation and encourages us all to persist in finding solutions for the chronic conditions that we all face daily.
The Bible says "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." How relevant it is that Mary Baker Eddy uses both Truth and Love as synonyms for God!
The Bible gives some instructive and empowering lessons on Love in verses from I Corinthians 13. It seems so relevant in the light of this wonderful news to share this here. This is from The Message
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies.
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
...for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.
And the best of the three is love.
To share your thoughts on this or to explore this idea further, please feel free to be in contact with me, add your own comments below, email this article to a friend, or add to the healing finds and sites on the web to the right.
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