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Jesus Loves You

3/27/2022

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I learned a lesson at the DMV…several lessons, in fact.   The first, and least important, was that one should schedule an appointment before going there.   When I entered the building, at 9:15 a.m., I saw a notice advising patrons to make an appointment.  Using my phone, I went online and secured the next one available, for 9:45 a.m.      While I sat, waiting for my time, I heard a young Latino couple approach the desk.   They were told that if they did not have an appointment the wait would be 3 hours.     They sat down.    I knew there were appointments available sooner than 3 hours, so I offered to help them.    They used my phone and were able to get an appointment within 30 minutes.   
 
Still waiting, the same scenario played out again, this time with a middle-aged, Latino gentleman.   He struggled to figure out how to make an appointment with his phone so, again, I offered to help.  Like the previous couple, he used my phone to make an appointment within 30 minutes.     I felt pretty good about the experience until I realized that I had missed an opportunity to use Christ’s name.   I brought light to those peoples’ lives but did not share its Source. 
 
How to do that?  What sequence of words could I use to let people know that it is Christ’s love they feel, not mine; that I am a nice person because of Him?   Matthew 5:16 says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  How do I let my light so shine in a way that glorifies God?  Every sentence I composed in my head seemed awkward and laborious; something that would taint the experience rather than sweeten it.  The good works I got.  The glorify God, not so much.   
 
Then I went on a field trip to the Mars Desert Research Station where I got some extra-terrestrial inspiration.    I rode with Brent Hughes, father of one of my students and an all-round great human being. In the course of our 4-hour, car-ride conversation, I mentioned my dilemma.   Brent said that his daughter, Maddie, says simply “Jesus loves you.”   Perfect.   
 
“Jesus loves you” is the sentence for which I was searching.   Simple.  Sweet.  Strong.   Said after an act of service, it will identify the Source, inviting conversation but not forcing it.   PERFECT.
 
Jesus loves you.    And so do I.

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    Author

    Teresa Hislop
    thislop@msn.com

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