I've been taught that when “counseling” someone, it's a good idea to let the other person do most of the talking. That way you can get a better understanding of where they're coming from, but it also gives them a chance to work through their feelings as they verbalize, and many times they arrive at their own solution by talking it out. In my case, I usually let them do all the talking because I have no idea what to tell them. So you won't find any deep, philosophical answers here, I'm afraid.

Anyway, when my young friend Davonte asked me last week how he could show God that he loved Him, I turned the question back on him and asked, “How do you know when someone loves you?”

After thinking a little while, Davonte said, “When they spend time with me, when they talk to me, when they listen to what I have to say.”

Hah, I thought, confirmation for my little cut-and-dried formula! 

• “Spending time”=going to church
• “Talking”=prayer,
• “Listening”=reading, hearing, obeying God's Words.

But before I could tie everything up in a neat little bundle, Davonte added, “But the time I really felt like you and your husband loved me was when you came to my church to watch me perform. That's when I knew you really cared about me, when you appreciated my dancing.”

“Like when we clapped at the end?” I asked, thinking I could easily tie that in to praise and worship.

“Well, more than that,” Davonte said, struggling to put his thoughts into words. “If you didn't like the performance, I would have felt personally rejected. That dance was like a part of me, it kind of represents who I am, and if you hadn't liked what I'd created, how could you love me?”

Wow. Sort of like saying, “Love me, love my creation.” Which is basically what John wrote in 1 John 4:21 - And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Duh, guess I should have figured that out sooner, since it's right there with that scripture we were looking at last week, about loving God with heart, soul, and mind. Some religious hotshot in the New Testament asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, and He put loving people right under loving God. I like this version from Mark 12:29-31 best:                      Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

So God actually COMMANDS us to love each other. On multiple occasions, not just the two I mentioned. And since Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.”(John 14:15), I guess one of the major ways we express our love for God is to love His creation, other people.

Well, as Davonte and I were discussing this, my little poet decided he was going to make Valentines' Day cards for every person he could think of, and for all the homeless people he saw, and so on, so he could show how much he loves God by loving other people.

A wonderful idea, and one that most of the recipients will appreciate. I love the way Davonte takes what he learns and runs with it in an effort to please God. But I think there's a bit more to this “loving” business than handing out cards and candy. So Davonte and I have a little more research to do.