Loving Like God

“Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me…”

There’s this song by Jesus Culture called “One Thing Remains.” That line above is from the song, and it’s been on a constant replay in my mind for weeks now.

I’ve been thinking a lot about love lately—not the cheesy-romantic-comedy-type love (you know, where two gorgeous people meet at a bar or a highschool reunion, somehow have this magical collection, and go on to save the world one witty remark at a time). Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been known to read/watch my share of these. But I’m referring more to that deeper sort of love. The little kid you babysit drives you nuts with her antics but you still put her needs above your own, regardless of the paycheck. Your best friend ditches you repeatedly; repeatedly, you still wish her the best. Your brother knowingly rips your heart out and drags it through the mud, but you still give him a second chance.

Real love. Like God’s love. Unconditional love.

And, thinking about that, I realize my love is so conditional. Yeah, if you asked, of course I’d say I still love that kid or friend or brother. Of course I do. But how am I showing that? I get hurt by people, and I stew and vent and hold grudges. Grudges are so much fun, aren’t they? For a little while, at least, it’s fun, it’s easy, to stay mad, to get really angry, to play the victim, to act like I have every right to want vengeance.  Sometimes I wonder why it matters. Sometimes I’d much rather just stew on any offences, let them simmer and grow and fester until I have a full-fledged grudge.

Because it’s easy to blame it all on the other person.

Loving like God isn’t about blaming others, though. In fact, it doesn’t have anything to do with blame or whose fault what is. Loving like God is about forgiveness and selflessness and banishing the fear of trusting others again. There is no end to selflessness, best wishes, and second chances with a love like God’s. And second chances means letting go—forgetting—past offences. Forgiveness, well, sometimes sucks. It means I can’t play the victim to achieve some distorted sense of satisfaction. Darn.

So, maybe relationships are screwed up, and maybe they will be for a long time. But I don’t have to sit back, pouting, playing the victim. I can love like God, unconditionally—at least I can try to.

I can remove the plank from my own eye. I can stop blindly and conditionally blaming someone else for my messed up emotions and feelings. I am no better than anyone, so I can stop the judging. I can drop the grudges. I can forgive. I can hold out second chances like leaves in the fall, letting them blow wherever, no selectivity. Unconditionally.

I can love like God. I’ll fail, naturally, but I don’t have to give up. I don’t have to hold back.

Because God’s love never runs out on me.