At times I wonder is this love thing all a joke. An unpredictable emotion that at times leaves one looking like an utter fool.

The power of love is astounding. A love that forces you to a heartfelt apology to save a relationship. Love that moves you to care for a sick friend, wash dishes, take the out the trash. Love that moves you to forget self and pray for people who have hurt you, who have turned their back on you because you don’t see life their way. Love that encourages you to give it all no matter the cost.

How can we as mere humans sustain such an emotion? How can we give of ourselves, barely knowing how to stand on our own two feet emotionally?

It is in these questions and the need to love that Christ says, me. We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). It is Christ who said I will die a sinner’s death because I love you. I love you enough to save you from yourself, to save you from the unknown. I love you enough to cradle you in my arms and remove the pain of your past choices, sins and regrets, to the grave I go to bury them so you may live free.

It is in this act of love that I can love a father who abandoned my sisters and I. It is in this act of love that I can love those around me. It is because of His love that I am able to love myself.
It is in the audacity of love that I live free.

A dedication to Nelson Mandela

@earlinagreen