There is a lot of brokenness in our society right now (understatement of the year I know). There are a lot of hurting people for many reasons and many people looking for answers. One thing it brought to my mind is the Footprint in the Sand poem. If you are unfamiliar with it, it is about a person walking on the beach and reflecting on their life. They see that God walked with them and there were two sets of footprints but noticed that during the tough times there was only one set of footprints in the sand. They ask God why He left them during that time and he answers that at those times he was carrying them. You can read the poem HERE.
That’s cute I guess, but something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is why does God have to be the one to pick them up. Yes, God will always be there for us, but what if when reflecting on our lives we see our brothers and sisters picking us up and carrying us. This person looking back felt like they were alone and there was no one there for them. There are many people all around us that are feeling that way. Where is the body of Christ to pick that person back up and let them know that they are not alone? Where am I?
Jesus was abundantly clear when it came to this. He didn’t say it in code. He didn’t hide it in a parable. He said that He loved us and laid down His life for us and we are to do the same for others.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35 NASB
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13 NASB
There is nothing unclear about his command. Even with that, John helps define it a little bit for us. Love isn’t just saying something. It needs to come with actions. He was like the biblical DC Talk (haven’t ya heard).
Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
1 John 3:18
I have a long way to go in this area. In a lot of ways, I am learning what it even means to love others. I’m learning that I’ve got to let go of what I think it means and ask people. The way I want someone to love me is different from how they need to be loved (please don’t ask what my love language is because I don’t remember what they are).
When I look back on my life, I want to see times where others picked me up and carried me. I also want to see times where I was helping carry others. Forget one set of footprints, I want to see too many to count.
until next time…