TO LIVE IS TO LOVE (Part 2) #InTheseTimes

Still reminiscing on my grandmother’s love, I feel like God planted some people in my formative years to teach me the importance of love. I am grateful to God for filling my path with loving and caring people.
Growing up, I was quite an inquisitive and adventurous young boy. On a fateful day, I rode my bicycle to an unknown street looking for nothing in particular.

I got tired and decided to rest. Then I saw a building with an inscription on its gate, “beware of dogs”. I curiously rode closer and tried to peep through the gate when I noticed two fierce-looking dogs. Suddenly, they started barking furiously.
When I saw that the bigger one was trying to jump over the fence, I hurriedly rode away in fear. In my bid to escape,I failed to take a proper look at oncoming vehicles and I got hit by a motorcycle.
The rider ran away and left me helplessly whimpering in pain.

That was when uncle Tobi, our next-door neighbor, showed up. I don’t know where he was coming from but he singlehandedly carried me in his arms to the nearest bus stop where we got a cab to the hospital.
My parents were informed and they rushed down to take care of me. I thought I would not be able to walk again but God had mercy on me. With the care I got from family and friends, I was able to recover fully. This was after I had spent a whole month in the hospital.

Uncle Tobi came to check on me almost every day. We got fond of each other and became closer. He was such a gentleman. Though not a teacher, Uncle Tobi spared some time to take me on some general studies so I wouldn’t miss out so much on school work.
He did all that without asking for anything in return. He only made me promise him I would be more careful and be more responsible for my safety. That incident made me mellow on dangerous adventures.

In this fast-paced world, most people are only about minding their own businesses. We can show love to others in various ways.
Philippians 2:4 and 5 admonish us, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”.

We should not close our eyes to the needs of the people around us. While we cannot overemphasize the role that money plays in the lives of people, we need to pay attention to other areas where people need help. People need help physically, mentally, spiritually, financially, and in many other ways.

Many young individuals have great vibes and energies which can change the world for good if properly channeled. As older people, helping to guide and advise these young stars will go a long way in shaping their future.
Loving people is not just about giving them money or visiting them, it is also about guiding them from falling into pits that may ruin their future. It is about helping someone to live a better life.

“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:39). We should love people the way we love ourselves and when we see them towing a dangerous path, we should not hesitate to caution them.
“And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” (1 John 4:21)
Our “brother” can also be a friend, a neighbor, or a random passerby.

God showed us how much He loved us by sending His only son. We should in the same way love others.
Loving people is the way to live.
May God fill our hearts with pure and genuine love.