This week Bunga told us we had one word to remember - unconditional.
A lot of our campers come from unbelievable homes. They are blessed with parents who love them and friends who support them.
Other campers come from difficult home lives and they have friends who do anything but support them.
Regardless of who people are or what their background is, we are called to love them. Love God, love people. Two commands of seemingly simple proportions. All we have to do is love, right?
However, how often does our love become conditional? Even if we don't think it is, when looking back, we might notice that some of it is. We have the opportunity here are camp and in life to offer and show unconditional love to others. Not of ourselves, but of the Lord. He is the only One who can provide us with love even when we are not "feeling" it.
I am reminded of a quick story. I teach 2nd grade throughout the year and a student of mine did just about anything and everything he could to make sure he never followed the rules. One day he did something that took the cake and it brought me to tears in front of my class. I was hurt, and that's putting it lightly.
At the end of the day when he was packing up I walked over to his desk and knelt down. I said to him, "You know what? I love you. Because I truly know there is nothing you can do that would make me love you less. I love you, and I want you to know that." He looked up at me and then immediately started crying. I tell my kids I love them all the time, but to him, hearing that I still loved him even after his poor behavior was something different. Unconditional.
LOVE. It is powerful. Showing unconditional love is not easy. As humans we fail. We get angry and can hold grudges. But when all is said and done, love can prevail. The Lord will give you the heart to love His people. How incredible is that? We get the opportunity to love His people when so many others do not.
As we have these kids at camp we should love them unconditionally. I love that they get to see a picture of unconditional love and that they can get a small glimpse of the Father's love for us. Praise Him for that.
A lot of our campers come from unbelievable homes. They are blessed with parents who love them and friends who support them.
Other campers come from difficult home lives and they have friends who do anything but support them.
Regardless of who people are or what their background is, we are called to love them. Love God, love people. Two commands of seemingly simple proportions. All we have to do is love, right?
However, how often does our love become conditional? Even if we don't think it is, when looking back, we might notice that some of it is. We have the opportunity here are camp and in life to offer and show unconditional love to others. Not of ourselves, but of the Lord. He is the only One who can provide us with love even when we are not "feeling" it.
I am reminded of a quick story. I teach 2nd grade throughout the year and a student of mine did just about anything and everything he could to make sure he never followed the rules. One day he did something that took the cake and it brought me to tears in front of my class. I was hurt, and that's putting it lightly.
At the end of the day when he was packing up I walked over to his desk and knelt down. I said to him, "You know what? I love you. Because I truly know there is nothing you can do that would make me love you less. I love you, and I want you to know that." He looked up at me and then immediately started crying. I tell my kids I love them all the time, but to him, hearing that I still loved him even after his poor behavior was something different. Unconditional.
LOVE. It is powerful. Showing unconditional love is not easy. As humans we fail. We get angry and can hold grudges. But when all is said and done, love can prevail. The Lord will give you the heart to love His people. How incredible is that? We get the opportunity to love His people when so many others do not.
As we have these kids at camp we should love them unconditionally. I love that they get to see a picture of unconditional love and that they can get a small glimpse of the Father's love for us. Praise Him for that.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
This post was inspiring! In all of eternity I can not show the Father how much I am thankful for loving me through everything! Thanks for the post :)
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