It
is not easy for us to accept that we are sick, broken, in need of healing. Some
of our wounds come from longing to be loved unconditionally by other people. While
our parents, brothers, sisters, teachers, friends, or spouses can love us in deep
and meaningful ways, their love cannot fully satisfy our deep longing. While
human loves can reflect God’s love without condition, they are limited and
broken. No human love fulfills our hearts desire, and sometimes human love is
so imperfect that we can hardly recognize it as love.
When
our broken love is the only love we experience, we are easily thrown into
despair. But when we live our broken love as a partial reflection of God's
perfect, unconditional love, we can forgive one another and enjoy the love we
have to offer. When we acknowledge ourselves as sinners who expect people to
love us perfectly as God loves, we make space in for God. We allow God’s
indwelling Spirit to heal our wounds, purifies our desires, and unites us with
God, whose personal and abiding love surpasses our wildest imaginations.
“O God, help me to seek
in You more than in others the perfect love they cannot give.”
inspired
by Henri Nouwen
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