November 20, 2017

Love One Another

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:35

Several years ago we visited a women’s correctional facility in North Carolina.  I can recall the details because of an e-mail that has been in a file folder all this time.  We had been to the facility previously and the turnout for the programs was always quite high.  One woman had enrolled in our correspondence Bible Study program and had worked her way through numerous studies in a short time.  Her answers to each lesson were well thought out and filled with optimism and hope, despite some very challenging circumstances.

We had received permission to recognize this woman and honor her dedication and commitment at this visit.  We purchased a Study Bible and at the end of our program, in front of 95 women, we spoke of this woman’s diligence and perseverance and then called her forward to receive this gift.  The woman was shocked and as she made her way to the front, all the women in the room and the staff stood to their feet, clapping and cheering for her.  She cried, they cried, we call cried. 

It was a moment of love.  Biblical love is an action rather than a feeling.  It doesn’t happen very often in a correctional setting where everyone displays love for another person, but it happened that day.  Staff showed love.  Fellow offenders showed love.  The ministries in the room showed love.  The woman who was the recipient showed love.  It was a great display of unity, maturity and respect.  If someone had walked into the room, they would have recognized love.