Love embraces new experiences and new friends. Love sees the heart and cherishes the inner beauty (along with the outer). Shared love touches the hearts of more than just the individuals directly involved. True love is pure, simple and contagious.

 

“As this lady joined us in our pew at church, my wife nudged me and encouraged me to greet her. In doing so I learned she was ‘visiting’ from a nearby town. We chatted some more and I soon realized that I had met her son a few weeks back, and having seen them from afar at Church over several weeks, related that they were no longer visitors, but church family. My words seemed rather shallow as my toddler daughter, shortly thereafter, waddled down the pew to the lady’s feet, extended her arms and pleaded, “Up, up!”

Our little girl gently laid her face against her new friend’s, placed her hands around her neck and cuddled in, only pausing to gaze into her eyes before repeating her gentle affection. She then began to gently caress her new friend’s hair, running her little hands over her cornrows and down to the beaded ends. Each time their eyes met, broad, beaming smiles flooded their faces. Tears welled up in my eyes as a contagious smile spread across my own face — my heart warmed as this vision of Christ-like love crept down the pew. No wonder Jesus beckoned the little ones to Him and warned those who dare lead them astray. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart…’

Thank you Jesus and dear Child, for this view of pure love. May we all become more childlike each and every day.”