Tired of loving?

One Sunday, in my church, during the final blessing, I began to think about the moment that would follow, the handshakes, the small talk, and I wished that this moment would pass quickly so that I could finally go home, to my hiding place. And it continues on the way home, as I walk along the dusty lanes, passing a few neighbours. I whisper a brief greeting to those I can't avoid and pretend not to see the others. Because I'm tired; tired of greeting, smiling, asking or giving news, tired of interacting. My excuse is that I'm introverted, shy, I'm a homebody. I never asked myself what impact this behavior might have on the people around me.

Then I had the opportunity to spend some time in a diverse community of God's children. A community where we bump into each other, not just on Sundays, but practically every day in the corridors, in the dining room, just about everywhere.

A place where the fatigue of greeting and interacting can no longer be minimised. I meet a few people who seem tired like me, and I realise how frustrating that can be. I meet others who always acknowledge you, with a smile, a nod, or simply a kind look. A young brother used to shout my name when he came across me, in his loud voice and with a big smile: ‘IVAAA!’ I said to him one day: ‘Don't stop doing what you're doing. You don't know how many times that simple greeting has brought a smile to my face on a sad day.”

What about me? Could I be as intentional in my interactions, however brief, with others? That day I said this prayer: ‘Lord Jesus, give me the strength to be intentional with every person I meet in the corridors, in the neighbourhood. Give me the strength to smile, to say hello, not to look away’. 

The photo opposite was taken during one of my last visits to my grandmother, a few months before she died. I was amused to see that we had the same taste in shoes. Before that, there had also been those moments of unconsciousness when I said: ‘I've already visited her several times, that's enough’.  Then the time when I realised that when you love, you don't count the visits, the calls, the services rendered. Loving your neighbour is also about all that.

Are you tired of giving? Of sharing? Of caring for others? Of forgiving? Of calling to ask for news? I pray that you will be strengthened and continue to show love.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” Galatians 6:9-10.