Love means THIS…

Have you ever really looked forward to going out to a restaurant, and then some super annoying people sat at the table next to you?

I hope that wasn’t too honest. 😄🤭

But when we go out to eat—when we treat ourselves to a nice evening—we want everything to be perfect. Perfect for us. After all, it’s our time we set aside. Our money we worked hard for. And heaven forbid something ruins it…

So there I was that evening, finally sitting down, when a man and a woman took the table next to me. Clearly a first date. But instead of trying to show his best side, he kept getting louder, bragging about his life achievements. And her passion—impossible to miss because she was sharing so loudly—was cosmetic procedures…

They talked so loudly that everyone felt disturbed. Another couple had just sat down and looked at me as if to say, “How annoying are they?” And instead of responding with love, I sided with them—because I felt disturbed too… 

It’s kind of crazy: negativity sometimes connects faster than love does! 

Because at that moment, “loving” would have meant saying to the couple next to me: “Oh, those two lovebirds—let’s just let them be. Tell me your story instead.”

But my ego—“I want a nice evening. I set aside my time for this”—reacted faster…

… when we only see ourselves, we won’t understand love.

Paul says it—like always—very directly: “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:4) Not so easy, right?

Living out of love often means not putting yourself at the center.

At least not before people—but before God.

And who would you rather be seen by? People who come and go, or your God, who remains? Forever?

You are a miracle!