We are better when we love each other

Ashley Thaba | Monday December 2, 2019 09:37

How do we get this wonderful life? According to many verses, this abundant life is ours if we obey the scriptures.

Last week, I shared how devastated I was when a thief robbed our editor’s home in Block 9 and stole a hard drive with raw footage from our television show.

I am still so upset about that because the footage cost me so much money to produce and the shows were so powerful that I knew many would be blessed by the content of those recordings.

When the thief stole that, he stole footage meant to bless people nationwide. He stole thousands of my pula and countless hours of my hard work. However, today what I want to share is how I have been so blessed by the body of Christ in the aftermath of me being robbed.

Countless verses command us to love one another. Share each other’s burdens. Mourn when others mourn. Rejoice when others rejoice. Pray for one another. Comfort one another. I could go on and on with verses commanding us to love each other in practical ways. This past week, I have been blessed to be a recipient of such compassionate love.

People from all over the country have called me, left me voice notes with prayers they are praying for me and for the thief to be convicted to return the hard drive to the G- West Police Station.

Friends have given me Bible verses to claim and find hope and joy in a trial. People have assured me that they are praying for me and have shared my sadness.

People have called to check on me and left me Whatsapp messages to show their concern. The outpouring of love has been phenomenal. As the recipient of such love, I can see that when God gives us commands, it isn’t just to bless us personally; it is meant to bless others around us.

This is why the Bible says we are the family of Christ. We are not meant to walk through life alone and cry alone. We are designed and commanded with the love of Christ in us to love one another and share our friends’ burdens. Yet, so often, we get so caught up in our own worlds that we literally just don’t care about the pains our friends go through. The reaction is “I can’t deal with someone else’s problems because I have enough of my own.” We expect others to care about our pains but if we are honest, we really don’t have the emotional capacity nor compassion to care about their pain.

What we don’t realise is that the reason God commands us to love one another is because it not only blesses the recipient of that kindness but it also blesses us to get our minds off our own problems for a few minutes and think about someone else.

Can I encourage you today to make an effort to ask your friends a few questions. Ask

What struggles are going on in your life right now?

Is there anything I can do to help alleviate any burden you are carrying right now?

Did anything bad happen today that you want to talk about?

Make an effort to really get into your friend’s lives. Make an effort to walk in their shoes and care about their real life. Pray for them and take the time to really hear their hearts.

It is a gift you will give them and yourself. When God tells you to love others, it is a command meant to help you. When you love others, you feel love as it passes through you as you give it and pass it forwards. And one day, it will be your turn. You will have a bad thing happen to you and others will naturally give that compassion back to you. It is a beautiful thing to be loved. It is a beautiful thing to know when you are hurting, others are hurting with you. It is a beautiful thing to know you are not alone in this world.

Today, ask God to give you the strength to look around you – at work, at home, in your neighbourhood and find practical ways to love others. As a community, let’s stop living in silos and start living in love.

Let’s quit thinking of only ourselves and start thinking of how we can be a blessing to those around us. And for those of you who have taken the time to pray for me, be sad with me, encourage me and show concern for me… even if I don’t find the hard drive, I know I have found my friends. I thank you for loving me and I pray God gives me the strength to keep loving you. Our lives are richer when we exist to love each other.

Contact Ashley - askthaba@gmail.com or Facebook: Talking with the Thabas

Ashley is a popular motivational speaker and life coach. She facilitates team building and wellness events. As well, she is the author of Dive In and Conquering the Giants, books that can be bought at Exclusive Books at Airport Junction or on Amazon.