"Do you remember?"

Eléana Dullinger

My loved ones, if God had such love for us, it is right for us to have love for one another. No man has ever seen God: if we have love for one another, God is in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:11-12

There are so many "do you remember" moments in our lives. "Do you remember when we first kissed?" "Remember when we first met?"

I am newly married and I really enjoy this time which we will certainly remember later. I believe that each of us has experienced beautiful moments filled with love. Love gives us life. Without love, a child cannot develop properly. And no matter how old we are: it simply feels good to be loved. Those who are loved can love others and sympathize with others.

Where there is love, life turns into success. This has to do with God. For God is love. God's love comes to us through other people and goes on to others once we accept it.

"My loved ones, if God had such love for us, it is right for us to have love for one another. No man has ever seen God: if we have love for one another, God is in us and his love is made complete in us" 1 John 4:11-12.

Perhaps you have already met people that you found difficult to love. I have experienced that too. People who annoy us and with whom we don't get along so easily. This Bible text however speaks of the fact that we are obliged to love one another. But this is not about an action out of a sense of duty. It is about a complete change of heart. We cannot see God, but your neighbors, your colleagues, your family who do not know God can see him in you.

Let me tell you about Louise and Shawn. Some time ago, my husband and I were on holiday in South Africa where he had lived for a year after graduating from high school. So for one night, we stayed with this couple he knew. Although we were there for 24 hours only, this couple inspired me incredibly. Both are devoted Christians and I was amazed by their love for us even though they had only just met me for the first time. They wanted to do everything they could for us to feel comfortable and to experience South Africa in the most positive manner possible. It was like being at home for a moment on this long journey. And when I think of the Bible text again, I see this love in them. This love feels like home.

I believe that Jesus's disciples knew this feeling of unconditional love and acceptance, this feeling of being at home with Jesus. If we find our home in Jesus, if we learn from him, we will become more and more like him. The more we know ourselves in his love, the more we can lavish it generously on others.

Every single moment of our lives has the quality of becoming a "do you remember" moment – telling the story of love and God's way with us.

Eléana Dullinger

Eléana Dullinger