God’s Gracious Love
Marilyn A. Wilt (Pennsylvania, USA)


We love because [God] first loved us. - 1 John 4:19 (NRSVUE)



My experience as a special education teacher has reinforced my understanding of God’s gracious love. Owen, a student at a school for children with severe disabilities, had a strong attachment to me even though he was not in my class. Owen would race toward me and give me a giant hug whenever he saw me in the hallway. Because he was non-verbal, he never expressed why he was so drawn to me. I had never done anything that would warrant his attention. And even though there were times I had to ignore Owen’s desire for my attention, he always ran to me the next time he saw me in the hallway.

Owen’s unconditional and undeserved love for me reminds me of God’s gracious love. There is nothing that I have done to deserve God’s love and nothing I can do that would take God’s love away from me. God’s love is truly undeserved grace, just like Owen’s love for me. Each time Owen reached out to me, I was reminded that God’s love is a gift that I have not earned but have been blessed with anyway. Knowing this encourages me to love others as God loves me.




TODAY'S PRAYER
Gracious God, thank you for loving us even though we have done nothing to warrant your love. Help us to love others with your unconditional love. Amen.



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TODAY'S READING
1 John 4:7-21


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God’s love is the greatest gift.


PRAYER FOCUS
Children with severe disabilities