As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.
- Isaiah 66:13
See what kind of love the Father has given us,
That we should be called children of God; and so we are . . .
- 1 John 3:1
Love is patient and kind…
It does not insist on its own way…
Love bears all things…
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
June 2nd is my older son’s birthday. Giving birth is wondrous—involving participation in creation and love. I learned a lot about love. In The Art of Loving Erich Fromm wrote that “Love is the active concern for the life and the growth of that which we love.” This “active concern” involves responsiveness and care. As parents know, this, for example, means getting up during the night to feed and care for the baby. This means that loving parents cannot “insist on our own way” and just ignore the baby and continue to sleep! We learn about patience and endurance. And, we learn that our love can generate responsiveness and love from our child. We gratefully, hear from Isaiah, that the way we love and comfort our children, is something like the way God loves us. From Genesis through the New Testament, we hear that God loves us and all creation—is responsive and cares for us. This is “Good News”! And, paralleling our human parent-child love, we are called, in response, to love God—and to further generate love with others.
Musical Reflection - Let my Love be Heard, Jake Runestad - Stellenbosch University Choir
