For so long, I worked hard to be loved, but I never truly understood how much of a gift it is to love another person. I want to be loved, yes, but also to share and express my love.
My story is about a gift I’ve received, but first, I need to give you a little background to explain why it means so much to me. I graduated in May 1996 from Malta High School, a small school with a graduating class of 22 students. The following fall, I enrolled in a community college and worked full-time at a Greek restaurant, “Lukulos,” in DeKalb, Illinois.
One day, while driving to work, I passed my old high school and noticed the parking lot was full of cars. It caught me off guard. I slowed down, turned around, and pulled up in front of the school, then went inside. I went to the secretary’s office, said hello, and got a pass to see one of my favorite teachers, Mrs. Johnson, my geology teacher. When I walked into her classroom, I was surprised to find it was filled with freshmen, all of whom I knew, so it felt familiar. As I greeted Mrs. Johnson, I noticed she was very pregnant—really pregnant!
I gave her a hug, and she asked, “To what do my class and I owe the pleasure of your visit today?” With a completely serious face and a pure heart, I asked her what they were doing at the school. She laughed, and so did the class, but I was sincere. After talking with her and the class, I realized I had thought the school would close down and cease to exist now that I no longer attended. As I drove away from the school that day, I was struck by how selfish I was to think the world would stop spinning just because I wasn’t in it. This wasn’t the last time I’d act selfishly, but for the sake of this story, I want to highlight the shift that has taken place in me since then.
On January 1st, 2007, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Since then, I’ve come to realize that He isn’t against me, but that He is in me, working through me. I’ve always longed for love from friends and family, but I didn’t grow up with the physical affection I was seeking. Recently, during my daily readings, I came across a verse in John 21 that really stood out: “John 21:7 – Therefore, the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it) and plunged into the sea.”
This verse made me think of something I’d seen before in the movie Forrest Gump. Forrest and Bubba had plans for a shrimping boat, but Forrest had to do it on his own. When he visited Lt. Dan, Lt. Dan sarcastically said he’d be his first mate if Forrest ever got a boat. When Lt. Dan finally showed up at the dock in his wheelchair, Forrest was so filled with joy and emotion that he jumped off the boat, and it crashed into everything while he swam toward Lt. Dan.
I imagine Peter felt the same overwhelming love and joy when he recognized Jesus. It reminded me of videos I’ve seen of children whose parents are in the military. After being away for a long time, when their parents come home as a surprise, the children are so filled with emotion and joy that they begin to cry.
The gift God has given me is that He has taken away my selfishness and replaced it with sympathy and empathy, allowing me to look beyond myself (though not always perfectly) and see others. For so long, I worked hard to be loved, but I never truly understood how much of a gift it is to love another person. I want to be loved, yes, but also to share and express my love.
My birthday is October 31st, and for this year’s gift, I would like some genuine people in my life—people I can love, who will love me back. But above all, I would love to start with a simple hug! Thanks for listening. Take care and stay blessed.
In Jesus’ holy name.
