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Monday, June 15, 2020

Love Them Now

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another.  In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” John 13:34-35 (The Message)

It was recently announced that the Rev. Richard Avery had passed away.  Rev. Avery and Donald Marsh, who passed away in 2010, wrote a number of Christian songs in the 1970s that were considered contemporary at the time.  One of their collections was called “Hymns Hot and Carols Cool.” One of my favorites that came to mind when I heard of Rev. Avery’s passing is “Love Them Now.” It has a powerful message that is timeless.  

“Love them now. Don’t wait till they’re gone away.  Love them now, while they’re around. Touch them, hold them, laugh and cry with them. Show them, tell them, don’t deny with them.  Honor them, give birth and die with them now.  Love them now before they’re just a guilty mem’ry.  Love them now.  Love them now.       

During this time of the pandemic, we hear about people who are sick and dying alone in the hospital because no visitors are allowed. Family members are only able, in some cases, to communicate electronically, but even that is not always possible. Those are extreme examples of needing to let people know we love them, but it should remind us that Jesus commanded us to love one another in the same way he loved us. He didn’t tell us to love others when it’s convenient or easy. We need to demonstrate that love for others now.

Prayer: Dear Lord, as Avery and Marsh wrote, we need to love others before they’re gone. Before someone is a guilty memory, we can demonstrate love the way you love us. Forgive us when we fail to remember our love for others and your love for us. Please be with us now and in the future when we can more easily demonstrate our love for others.  

Robin Hadfield

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