Parking my car, I had seen her out of the corner of my eye. Every time I’d met her before, she made it clear; all were to leave her alone. While getting my water and book bag, I could only wonder why she was here now. Inwardly I was praying against fear. Not mine, but hers.
Saying hi, I spoke to her by the name I remembered she had given me once. Sharing back my own name, I asked her if she was coming in for a service. Her response was painful and angry, but I stood still to listen to everything she seemed to need to say. She had no idea how deeply she was hurting me with her words, and I wasn’t inclined to tell her as much.
I already sensed knowing she’d had too many words spoken to her in her lifetime. Promises broken, those who said they loved her but then hurt her deeply. She didn’t need more words from a stranger to dispute what she felt. Once she had finished with her tongue lashing, I simply responded, “Well I hope you have a good morning”. It was a lame acknowledgment, yet the best I could offer after being shredded.
I am carrying her in my heart, but it goes against the logic of my mind. She as much as told me how useless I am. To her credit she didn’t curse at me when she was stripping me down. My mind says, “Why would you give her a second thought, she hates you and everything about you? She’s a complete stranger.” My heart keeps responding with “agape” love to say, “Love the unlovable. Be intentional about that love. Be purposed to see her with kind eyes. Don’t give up.”
* Love defined as a verb…Love can be known only from the actions it prompts…It does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all. (*Excerpt from Vine’s Concise Dictionary)
Love Is A Verb….(lyrics by DC Talk)
Words come easy but don’t mean much
When the words they’re saying we can’t put trust in
We’re talkin’ ’bout love in a different light
And if we all learn to love it would be just right