Letting go because of love

When we hear the word, 'love', our minds echo these words - 'take and keep'. As humans, we love to keep what we love and enjoy spending time with whom or what we love.

But there is a twist to love that we sometimes do not wish to face. Sometimes love releases!

The father in the story of the Prodigal son had to release his wayward son, and love him from a distance - Luke 15:11-32. As parents, as much as we desire to guide our children, there are instances where our love must release them to make their own mistakes and learn their own lessons, while guiding them with our prayers. As the saying goes - "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."

Letting go whom we love is difficult, but a sign of maturity. Sometimes those we love may not love us back. They may treat us badly and speak badly to us, and of us. But love does not mean we have to  persistently irritate them, trying to let them see we love them. Sometimes love is quiet. Sometimes it is stoic. At other times it is sacrificial, but it is interminable.

If the Prodigal son had not returned home, his father would never have stopped loving him. Although he would have been perpetually pained for his loss, that love for his son will not have wavered. Love fights! But not all battles are overtly fought. Some love battles are covert, yet rage on unto victory.

May the God of love teach us the secret of loving, and of loving even the unlovable.


















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