“Is There Grass on Your Path?
A mother and daughter reflect.”

Converts to Christianity in one region of Africa, in their diligence about praying, each person had a “prayer room” in the bush with a private path. When grass began to grow on a path, it was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much. In concern for that person’s spiritual welfare, others warned lovingly, “Friend, there’s grass on your path.”

God calls us to walk our path in life with Love: Love for God and others. Love is about embracing all of Who God IS, what God thinks and values. How do we walk a path of Love? God’s Love letters in the Scriptures help us understand how to walk a path of Love. This scriptural light helps us understand how Love is action, reflecting our feelings in deeds and words. Scripture, particularly Jesus’ model of living, can guide, keeping us walking on our Love path. Others will see our demeanor and actions as well as hear our words that bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). They will see the evidence on our path of Love, find only good fruit, not overgrowing weeds like misuse of the world that God has and continues to create, failure to value diversity, engaging in prejudice, self-centeredness, disrespect, self-righteousness, hate, and the like.

Walking a path of Love will open doors that increase, in both the givers and receivers, the capacity to love as God Loves, as God commands.  In doing so, our Godly Love flourishes. As a daughter, I have seen that effect through the life and ministry work of my mother.  Questions she asks on the conference floor, in meetings, and in encounters often inspire reflection that leads others to think more broadly, drawing closer to God’s way of Loving the world. Some, who disliked her theology, when experiencing health or life problems or when discovered to be disreputable, while not excusing sinful actions, were sent words of encouragement, love, and hope. The result? Positive shifts in attitudes and how ministry work and interpersonal encounters may be handled with Love.

Reflection: Is there grass on your love path?