Ankute, I John, and God's love...

Tonight at Bible study we were discussing God's love as discussed in I John.  One of the questions was about how our assurance of God's love changes us and how it affects the way we love others.  As we talked about the amazing power of God's love, I kept thinking about this little kiddo named Ankute.  He is probably my new favorite kid.  I don't actually know him, I just read his mom's blog.  Oh, but I digress.  Anyway, this little guy is a 3-year-old Ethiopian orphan who has recently been adopted by an American family.  His adoptive mom was talking the other day about how he sometimes worries about there not being enough food.  If others get seconds, he worries they will eat it all.  As he spends more time in his new home, he starts to believe that there will be enough food.  

I think God's love works in a similar way.  All too often we are like Ankute and the food.  We are so worried that there won't be enough.  That our needs won't be met, that we will want without being able to have.  And so we spend our time watching out for more.  But if we truly understand God's love, we are able to reach out, to love others.  We are able to do this because we can trust in His love.  We are able to believe that His love is enough, our needs are/will be met.  Then we are free--free to give away love, free to live life with an eye out for others' needs.  

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