Little children, let’s not love with words or speech, but with action and truth. This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts in God’s presence. 1 John 3:18-19
God has called us to act out our love for each other by serving. Jesus taught us to love your neighbor as yourself. I recently came across a story in the Orange County Register about one couple who has done just that.
When the stay at home orders went into effect, four families began meeting every evening at 6 PM. They all brought out their chairs and sat in their area that had been marked off with chalk so that they kept the 6-foot distance from each other. They called this gathering “6 at 6”. As life slowed down, they talked about how their kids’ graduations were being disrupted because of COVID-19. They began to notice patterns like geese flying overhead at the same time and neighbors coming home from work. They also noticed a couple who would walk by every night around 6:30 the same time. They waved and said hello but didn’t know each other.
One morning the families in the “6 at 6” group found cards on their car windshields. Inside the cards there were nice notes of encouragement with a small amount of cash for the graduates. The cards were signed by Bill and Barb. A few streets away twins celebrating their birthday also received a birthday greeting from the mysterious Bill and Barb. No one knew who they were.
Over time the mystery was solved, and they figured out that Bill and Barb were the couple that walked by every night at 6:30 PM. The graduates that received the cards then wrote signs and thank you cards and passed them out to Bill and Barb when they went by during their evening walk.
Through this pandemic there have been many ways that love has been put into action. People continue to keep our food closet stocked so that we can feed our neighbors. Those that can shop for others who are in the at-risk community do. Gift cards were purchased for our shower ministry guests. Protestors have gathered to bring our attention to the need for love and justice for our black neighbors. Many people have sewn endless numbers of masks so that we have them to help slow the spread of the virus. It gives me hope that through all of the fear, anger and finger pointing surrounding the uncertainty of COVID-19 that the language of love still speaks louder.
Gracious and loving God, use us to spread your love. Help us to see each circumstance in our lives as an opportunity to grow in your love. May we see this world we live in as a place to grow in your love so that we may share this love with our neighbors.
Go in love,
Marty