Young readers, God wants us to know how special we are to him. “For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Every morning, I wake up so grateful knowing that God blessed me with another day filled with love. My days are often challenging because of my hectic schedule, filled to the brim with schoolwork, but I always stay focused and on task.
To be loved is a blessing! There are days when I feel like I haven’t rested enough, and I need an extra boost of some sort. I can honestly share with you that before I leave the house for my long days, I am served a hefty dose of love from my mom, which includes a big hug, letting me know how proud she is of me.
Leaving the house knowing that I’m loved encourages me to go out feeling like I can indeed have a great day, especially at school. As it says in Colossians 3:14, “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
When we all think about love and what it really means, you can also find that information in the Word of God. The guidance given about love is superb. All you have to do is look at the way it’s written and broken down for us to understand.
It says in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”
I’ve always chosen love over anger despite unpleasant experiences, which would not have been easily forgiven if my God wasn’t a forgiving God. Our instructions, as stated in 1 John 4:7, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
Remaining positive is so much healthier and more rewarding than doing wrong to others out of enjoyment. As a 13-year-old, I had to make sure I didn’t carry grudges or feel hate towards anyone who did something unacceptable to me.
As Luke 23:34 says, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” This will certainly be an unnecessary burden, too heavy to carry around every day, along with my heavy backpack.
As a young man, I find the greatest virtue in life to be love. Simply explained in Proverbs 21:21, “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” Love conquers all. Amen!
