I just finished reading Everybody Always by Bob Goff. I’m not sure how I was able to read the entire book, let alone retain what I was reading while in the car traveling down to Florida with two young and happy ladsters in the back, but it happened. And did this book ever speak to me! What a generous look at being and becoming love in a world full of setbacks and difficult people. You see, it’s easy to love those who are easy to love, but what about the ones who are hard to love? You know, the ones who are different than us, the ones who treat others poorly, the ones who have wronged us, our enemies even? I’d like to think I don’t have any enemies, at least that I know of, but what would happen if we just loved one another the way Jesus did, drew a circle around ourselves and invited everyone in? There were so many examples of extravagant love in this book. Bob says, “you’ll be able to spot people who are becoming love because they want to build kingdoms, not castles. They fill their lives with people who don’t look like them or act like them or even believe the same things as them. They treat them with love and respect and are more eager to learn from them than presume they have something to teach.” Game changer. Reading about Bob’s experiences in Uganda and through the non-profit organization he founded called Love Does, and how he works to promote human rights and education there and also in Iraq, Nepal, Somalia and India is impressive and demonstrates the type of extravagant love he refers to and what I believe God calls us towards. He lives without fear and loves without restrictions and beyond borders and he’s taught each of his kids and countless others, I presume, to do the same. I won’t give away the stories he tells in this book. I’ll just encourage you to pick up a copy for yourself and try not to be encouraged and inspired by his life and look for ways to love outside the lines in your own life.
I’m always open and ready to be inspired on what to write about. I pray about it. I wait for inspiration. I never want to be lead by emotion but by direction and purpose. I have gained insight while jogging the most. It’s actually while wogging, because I do more walking than jogging. Nonetheless, wogging seems to jog my mind in a good way and keeps me focused on what’s in front of me. It’s also really good for me and I should do more of it, for the happy endorphins alone. But today, inspiration for what I’m writing came while I was vacuuming. I was vacuuming up crumbs. I’ve come up with a routine this summer and it has the kids participating with me. We get up, we read, we eat, we make our beds, clean our rooms and tackle something together that needs addressed in the house. They love to help especially after I came up with a point system. I try to make it fun, but I am pretty firm. I may have been inspired by Nascar in this one. I guess they have a new point system too. My children get points for cheerfully helping and finishing the task at hand whatever it is without complaining or for exemplary behavior throughout the day. In the past, we’ve done tickets in a jar for kindness. That was fun to see who would come out on top in outdoing others in kindness. I have one child who loves to help, puts others first and goes with the flow and I have one who likes to complain some, do as little as possible before it kills them while wanting to land on top and in first mostly. After we finish our morning routine, we can get on with the rest of our day.
So today is water fun Wednesday. They are actually getting along in the jacuzzi/swimmimg pool right now as I keep one eye on them and the other on typing. There’s been popsicles and pool games. My kids enjoy having fun. What kid doesn’t? I hope they think I’m fun but at the end of the day, I’m probably the least liked parent between my husband and I. I’m with them way more which automatically makes me the honorary disciplinarian. I coordinate the fun and also the rules. The accolades when dad arrives home from work is nothing like what I receive after returning from a day away, a trip to the grocery store or dinner out with a friend. What did you bring me? That’s usually what I get and I’m not sure where this comes from because I’m not one to give in or offer much up in this area. What I hope is that I’m leaving crumbs behind, that I’m filling up their buckets with enough love to propel them into who they’re becoming and loving them without restrictions. I secretly hope they’ll become love in a way that’s never been seen before. But, I shouldn’t be looking for anything in return, like to be loved more by them. There’s a saying that goes something like this, “you’ve not lived today unless you’ve done something for someone that can never repay you.” That’s just it. Whatever I do in this life, may I do it not out of obligation, nor for approval or to gain anything in return. May I do it out of love. Pure, uninhibited love.
I don’t think it matters where you or I am to start living a life that leaves more of a love impact on others than previously imagined. You may have it all figured out, maintain a corporate job, hold a title or still be working on yourself and not have much to show for. You may think you can’t fit another thing into your busy schedule or that one day you’ll do something that matters when the time is right, when money allows. I’m learning that time is not our friend. I’ve seen the movie, Alice Through The Looking Glass. Furthermore, love doesn’t cost a thing. I don’t think we’ll be remembered by what we thought about doing but by what we did, mostly for others. We think we have to have it all figured out to start living a life that matters or that we have to be qualified or have all the information. Love doesn’t require a degree. It just does. Love Does! (That’s the title of Bob’s first book.)
So what does it look like to just be love to everyone like we were made for it? Leave crumbs in the lives of those around you and not just for the easy to love but the difficult. Go out of your way for others and don’t expect anything in return. Instead of putting yourself in a circle and deciding who’s in and who’s out, just allow everyone in. Get uncomfortable for love’s sake!