Devotionals

---

Love Them Like Family

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10 NIV

“Don’t get too attached,” warned my friends and family when referring to my physical therapy patients. Deep down in my heart, I know their cautioning words are given because they care about me. They don’t want to see me get hurt. Honestly, though, I love my patients as if they are my family.

Seeing mostly geriatric clients, they usually welcome me into their world with open arms. I come into their home to help them physically get stronger and most times, they help me get stronger too. Sometimes I get stronger emotionally or even spiritually. I know with all my being God has placed me in this career to minister to these homebound people. So I cannot help but love them with all of my heart. When they go through trying times, so do I. When they are having a not-so-good day, so do I. When they rejoice over news of the birth of a great- grandbaby, I rejoice with them. We share together in life’s journey, the ups and the downs.

Recently, a former patient passed away. I felt heart broken, as if a piece of me was dying too. I had worked with this dear woman for many months and developed a special bond with her. I kept in touch even after her Physical Therapy had been discharged. It saddened me to think of a world without her kind, gentle Christian spirit in it. And my family and friends’ words echoed in my ear…”’Don’t get too attached.’ Were they right after all? Was I only setting myself up for heartbreak by letting myself care too much?”

The Lord brought a Scripture passage to mind that gave me the answer I needed. In Romans, I read, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” God calls us to be committed to loving others. He doesn’t just want us to be loyal to our closest friends and family. He challenges us to love everyone, from the sweet neighbor down the street to your not-so-friendly co-worker. After all, as believers in Jesus Christ, aren’t we all brothers and sisters anyway? We are all family, related by the blood shed for us on the cross so long ago.

What’s more, God desires for us to love with a deep, devoted love. The kind of love that prompts you to take time out of your hectic day to counsel a friend who’s trying to make a life-changing decision. Or the kind of love that inspires you to dedicate your Saturday working in a soup kitchen serving the less fortunate. It means we give of ourselves and try to help others become better people. Genuine, sincere love is what we are to give others. And sometimes that love requires you to sacrifice something precious, like your heart, as you grieve the loss of a cherished patient and friend.

In the end, loving others as God calls us to is definitely worth it. Even though you may have to make sacrifices and risk the chance of getting hurt, the blessings of the relationship far outweigh the sacrifice. God will provide you with abundant peace, knowing you followed His command. So go ahead- it’s okay to get attached to those around you. Get involved with other people in your community, your workplace, your home. Seek out those who need to be loved and resolve to express love in meaningful ways. Ask God to help you learn to love everyone like family.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE