Love, Love, Love Is All You Need

I've recently become Bestemor (or grandma) to two beautiful girls. It's been an exciting experience and one I've been eager to have. I knew I would love them as soon as they arrived and did in fact love them before they were born. What an odd concept: how could I love someone so much before I even met them? It can't be because of their looks. Newborns are funny looking creatures that look like old men or aliens or something. However, I did love them immediately and believed they were beautiful regardless of what they actually looked like.  How could I love someone I didn't know? I couldn't love them because they're kind or generous or funny or smart because I don't know if they are. But I love them anyway.

This phenomenon has made me stop and consider how I react when I meet adults or other children. Why don't I love them right off the bat? What a question!  Certainly there are different kinds of love.  Of course, I have to get to know someone new pretty well before I can decide to love them or not. But why? Why can I immediately love my granddaughters and not love everyone else immediately?  No one does that. Why not? Isn't that the most Christ-like thing to do? What would happen if I tried to do that? (For one thing, I'd probably be labeled pretty odd.) But what would it look like? I don't suppose I'd be kissing their toes like I do to the babies. Yeah, that would get me locked up pretty quick. But is there a way for me to try to love everyone I meet?  I guess it’s just as easy as remembering that whoever I meet is God’s child. I don’t have to figure out if they’re worthy of loving: God’s already done that. Maybe I just have to remember to let that thought override the usual first impressions. Love is all you need.

Randi Adams