By Elmer Warkentin
I love you – be my Valentine. Love is the story of us. Can’t stop lovin’ you. Your love is magic. This is Valentine’s Day lingo, love language. It’s romantic, it’s written in red. Once a year.
I asked Jesus, “How much do you love me?” He replied, “This much.” – and he stretched out his arms and died. Thanks, Jesus. I think I love my wife that much, too. And my kids and grandkids. My close friends. But what about my neighbours, my co-workers, the world around me? Not sure if I love internationals, newcomers to Canada, my ESL students, that much. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I enjoy interacting with internationals, I love to teach them our culture, our values, our language. It’s great to do it on my terms, in my time slots, at my convenience. Recently, on a stormy, cold Friday afternoon an international friend/ESL student, Amir, from an Islamic nation texted me. “Would you drive me with your van to Cambridge (half hour away) to pick up four used tires I have purchased via Kijij?” NO! Let’s do it next week. Weather is bad, I don’t have winter tires, I’m tired, I just want to take it easy now. I didn’t respond this way because the Holy Spirit (“he will take my place when I’m gone” – Jesus) reminded me of my call to love as Jesus does – with my arms stretched out, dead to self. We had a really good time chatting as we travelled. A couple of days ago I got a text from Amir asking how I was doing and ending with an uncharacteristic “I love you guys.”
Let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. (I John 3:18) Like Amir, our international friends need more than a beautiful red valentine that says, I love you. Their eyes meet ours and ask, “How much do you really love me?”