No Mayor Amor que Este

"... que uno ponga su vida por sus amigos." Juan 15:13

"No greater love than this, that a man would lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

My strongest love language is speech. Words of encouragement. Telling my dear friends that I love them, why I love them, how I see Christ in them, and how they inspire me to love Christ better, those are things that encourage me to do, though I do hope they also achieve their intended purpose of encouraging those I give them to.

It comes naturally to me. My Christmas presents this year were pictures taken all over Europe in places that reminded me of my friends. I printed the photos, and then wrote the prayers and thanks that I said for them while I stood in that place. It's my native language. It is the way I tell those around me that I love them, and the way I feel most loved in return.

I have always known that there are other love languages, too. Touch, quality time, etc. Everyone has different ones, different things that mean the most to them, different ways that they feel loved by others best. However, I've never encountered someone who can't understand a love language that isn't their own. Until now.

I've told them that I love them. But my words go in one ear and out the other. And then my pride flares up, because I don't appreciate being pegged a liar when I am not. But, always, Jesus speaks into those moments and reminds me that it isn't about me. I do that same thing to Jesus all the time. Does he get mad, throw up his hands, and give in? No. Of course not. He changes the language in which he speaks to me.

If words are not getting through to me, Jesus uses something else. The people around me or music or feelings or anything, really. If attempt number one doesn't get through, he tries again and again and again until I finally get it. He doesn't dig in his heels and kick and scream because he is being asked to give up a little part of himself, a little part of his comfort.

He loves me the way I need to be loved.

Naturally, we expect those around us to speak the same love language that we do. When I encourage those around me, I naturally assume that it says the same thing to them that it does to me: that I am dearly thankful for them and would not be the same without them. But that isn't necessarily true. That is all well and good, but I am loving those around me in the way I like to be loved. Not necessarily in the way they need to be loved.

And in that moment I am faced with a choice: feed my pride and demand my own selfish satisfaction, or throw up my hands and lay down my life for my friend.

God is big and good and wonderful, and I want to show those around me how real he is. Even when my pride flares up and I throw a fit and fail miserably. Because he is bigger and better and more wonderful than my pride is ugly. And he promised to break it down. (Lev. 26:19)

And well he is.