If I am to tell you the truth of love; then, I must begin at the beginning. We arrive at every relationship of life carrying our baggage from the past. Unless we are willing to acknowledge and recognize that; we cannot develop meaningful relationships and we cannot truly love another person. My hope, my desire is that through this series I may help you to find strong, unshakeable love that warms your heart and holds fast to truth, hope and joy.
As a young child growing up on the farm, my mother says I was very sensitive and tender toward justice. She tells me that at age 3, I would be busy playing when my older brother would take my toys. (Charlie was 10 months older than I). Mom would hear what happened and would come to spank Charlie to make him return my toys. To this she says I would protest. “Please don’t spank him! I don’t want that toy, he can have it. He can have that toy.” I do remember that horrid pain of seeing someone hit another. Years later, I felt the injustice when a teacher would spank a child. My whole body would tremble, my heart break every time someone or something was hurt. I could never have imagined back then that one day I would be crouched in the corner while my husband beat me with a steel rod.
SEEKING THE BLIND, THE LOST, THE LAME
It was the tender heart of a 3 year old child who picked up and carried around a half- blind rooster. My father never considered him as possible Sunday dinner because I had adopted him as a pet. That poor, half-blind rooster lived to die of old age because I had loved him. That began a lifetime of reaching out to the hurt, the blinded, and the sick. If I could just save one person from the pain and sorrow they were facing. Yet, that too would lead to my being hurt many times along this journey; often, by those I wanted to help. I had a lot to learn still.
CIVIL RIGHTS THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD
It was the 50’s and civil rights was only a dream on the horizon. There were no blacks living in Dexter at that time. When we went shopping at Poplar Bluff, MO; I was fascinated by what beautiful skin and big smiles the black people I saw had. So, I began to sit and rock my imaginary black baby sometime between 3 and 4 years of age. I had several baby dolls; but, mom said I would sit and rock my imaginary black baby instead. There were no black dolls at that time in Southeast Missouri, so my grandmother from Michigan brought me one. So, very proudly I would carry my beautiful little black baby around with me. Mom and Daddy were quite wise in that. I was not certain what others thought; but, that didn’t matter. I was very sensitive against any injustice as a young child which again carried on throughout my life. I am thankful and proud of my parents for seeing the truth and standing tall.
THE PAIN OF INJUSTICE
Then, there was the day at age 5, we went shopping. I saw a poor Mexican migrant worker go into the grocery store with a check he had been given. I watched as he tried to cash the check to buy food. His wife and three children gathered around him as he carried another baby in his arms. They all looked hungry. The store refused to cash his check. I watched as he and his little family then went to the bank—again to be turned down. I tugged and tugged at mom’s dress. “Mom, please, you have to do something. His family is hungry!! Why won’t they let him buy food? Why, Mom?” Mom tried to explain; but, I could not understand. I was heartbroken. Mom told me she was sorry; but, there was nothing she could do. She said that sometimes the farmer’s paid with “bad checks.” At age 5, I couldn’t understand how anyone could be that cruel or unjust.
HEART OF MERCY
All of this would shape the woman I became one day. It would influence my views of the world. Mercy was born in the heart of a small child and it would take me years to understand how to live with that as my core gift and not be swallowed up by all the pain and sorrow I would see in this world.
3 TRUTHS OF LOVE DISPLAYED IN A CHILD’S HEART
It is no wonder that Jesus bid the children to come unto Him. He said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14 NKJV). There are 3 major truths about love as displayed here through the eyes of a child.
1. Love is sacrificial. It is willing to give away its prized possessions to protect the one it loves. “walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance” (Ephesians 5:2 AMP)
2. Love has no room for pride or prejudice. It see that which is good and beautiful in those it meets. Amy Carmichael wrote in her book “If”; “If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of their weak points in contrast perhaps with what I think of as my strong points; if I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting “Who made thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou hast not received?” then I know nothing of Calvary love.” We are called to humbly serve as Jesus came to serve. He gave His life for me a sinner. I am called to humbly love and serve all never separating by race, color, size, intelligence or nationality. God’s love has no borders or dimensions. “17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.18 He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing” (Deuteronomy 10:17-18 NKJV)
3. Love sees and hates injustice. We must stand up for those who are being treated unjustly. We do so with boldness; yet, never are we to become the perpetrators of injustice in doing so. If we become violent to combat violence then we have become the one we are fighting against and justice then would demand we destroy ourselves. We must stand against injustice with truth and with love; turning to God for our help. “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4).
So, the journey begins. Life changed as I entered into school. Again all of this becomes part of the baggage I carried into the relationships I would later develop and shaped how I loved and was able to receive love. I got lost along the way, stumbled over a few rocks, and even bled along this journey. Still it was a journey that lead me to today where I know love, hope, and joy to rise above the trials of life. [bctt tweet=” Take a moment, reflect upon your childhood & consider what baggage you brought to today’s love”] I would love for you to share that by email or by commenting below.
Listen to this beautiful video “Bible Verses on God’s Love for Children”
Amplified (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
(NKJV)New King James Version Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.