I often end up receiving a lot of strong emotions. I walk with people in grief and loneliness, am a focus of anger and anxiety, and offer a boundary to push against for those learning about themselves. It is hard this work, and yet I do it out of love. Love sometimes looks like standing in the deluge with someone. Love sometimes looks like saying no or setting a boundary.
As we think about love this advent we celebrate God’s love for us in sending Jesus, Mary’s love for her baby, and our love for God. We remember beloved family members and buy gifts for friends and family we love at Christmas. This is a season of sharing and charitable giving as we express love for community members who are struggling.
The reality is love is more than we reduce it to. Love is robust and complex and changing. As a parent, partner, and pastor I have experienced the way loves shifts over time, how it expands as life is shared.
May this season you know that you are loved!
-Eilidh
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