Jesus, COVID-19, and Loving Well

This pandemic has gone on for over a year. It has touched many. The ways are limitless and listing them is not important for this post as we all have been effected.

What prompted this post was another post I recently was an audience to. A post on someone stating their opinions on the COVID vaccine. And what I saw ripped my heart apart. People tearing other people down for their choices. Calling them "followers of the crowd" or "the reason COVID exists." Both sides were harsh and strong in their need to be heard.

This isn't the first conversation I have seen like this lately. With topics of the vaccine, racism, and politics all over the place, it makes me search my heart

Do I value being right more than I value the relationship?

Now do not hear me wrong, there is value in our voices. Our words matter and empower. They are necessary, but only when seasoned with love, dear friends.

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:6

We can spout all the facts and right information with forcefulness and conviction, but if not done from a place of love, it is of little benefit. See, this is what I am watching: raw people. People hungry for hope, life, truth, and love. People who need to be seen, heard, loved and valued. And yes, maybe they are completely wrong.

BUT! Is my need to be right greater than my need to value people?

People are allowed to be wrong. Read that again. And sometimes we need to bite our tongues to realize that maybe they're actually right, But dear friend, who are we seeing? Who are we hearing? Who are we loving well?

This may be a unique time for us, but I don't believe it is a unique time for Jesus. In fact, I would beg the point that it is an opportune time. An opportune time to love. And to love well. To love every person, exactly where they are.

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35

Sometime, that means listening without judgement. Sometimes that means seeing hurt and pain. Sometimes that means validating. Sometimes that means sitting in the dirt of life. And sometimes it means simply shutting our mouths. As my Mom used to say, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

Because I value you.

I value our relationship.

I hear you.

I see you.

You are loved.

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