It’s A Gift, Not A Sacrifice

Yesterday was the first full day my Extra Grace Box website was open for business. It was a long time coming, as I’ve been working on this since last March. With anything brand new, there are always uncertainties and risk, but I knew this going in. What I hadn’t anticipated is how absolutely astonishing it would be to have a front row seat to people showing love to one another. It has been a beautiful thing to witness!

When people order an Extra Grace Box, sometimes they share backstories with me. Or they ask me to include a special note to the recipient of the box.   These are private and confidential details of course, but let me tell you – they have moved me to tears! They have given me goosebumps!

This has left me thinking more deeply about what it means to love one another. I think sometimes we have a tendency to view serving others as a sacrifice, but the truth is, it’s a gift! And not just for the one on the receiving end. It’s a joy-maker for everyone involved, even the witnesses to the kindness, like me. Love, compassion, encouragement, kindness; these are all actions that bless the recipient while simultaneously blessing the giver.

I’m guessing Jesus knew this when He commanded us to love one another, don’t you? He knew love has a way of lessening the weight of the burdens we carry. He knew love has a way of soothing our sorrows. He knew love is like a bright light when we can’t see through the darkness. And He knew it’s like amnesia for our fears and a reminder of His glory. I mean, there’s a reason it’s “The greatest of these, right?”

I’m not always a great giver. Sometimes I’m selfish. Sometimes the “not enough” excuses (not enough energy, not enough organization, not enough time, not enough money, not enough talent, not enough healed, not enough Christian, not enough happy….NOT ENOUGH!) talks me out of loving someone who needs it. All the “not enough” are lies!

I’m not a great chef, so I’m not going to bring a casserole to a friend in need, but I have been equipped with my own unique gifts, talents and personality traits. I just need to be willing to use them. I need to put my own insecurities aside, overcome the mindset that service is a sacrifice and get joyous about the gift that loving one another is!

The Extra Grace Box has been such an important reminder to me that we are wired for love! We are made in God’s image, and HE IS LOVE! And we GET to love one another through this life. It’s a GET to, not a HAVE to. It’s a privilege and a gift, not a sacrifice.’

I’m so thankful for all the people, known and unknown, who have loved me through some of life’s most difficult times. I thank God for them. I pray I can clearly see all the ways I “get to” love others today, tomorrow, and always. I hope you’ll join me. What an incredible gift we are to one another.

John 13:34  (NIV)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 

Extra Grace,

Jodi