Born to Love

"Amma” which in Tamil means mother, is the only word that is etched on a birdbath that marks the site of Amy Carmichael’s grave. Her mission school at Dohnavur, Tamil Nadu, became a sanctuary for thousands of girls who were caught in temple prostitution. It is said that many nights in her early years in India, though unaccustomed to wearing a sari, she would cycle a long way draped in one, just to rescue one little girl. Although she was restricted to her bed after a disastrous fall in 1931, she continued to rescue these children through others. When the children were asked what drew them to Amy they simply said, “It was love, Amma loved us.”

Sometimes we need to be reminded that love shines brightest of all human virtues. Indeed, true love cannot be experienced without Christ, for He is the very definition of love (1 JOHN 4:8). In and through Christ’s birth, death and resurrection, we have an enactment of true love. Jesus’ love was not something reciprocal, but something that was shown even to the

undeserving (V.10). When we view love the way God does, it changes our entire perspective on how to propagate it. It helps us realise that unless we love as Jesus did, we cannot claim to truly know God (VV.7-8). Indeed, Jesus was born to showcase the meaning of true love.

Every person on earth is created in the image of God (GENESIS 1:27) and we meet many who are in need of love. As God’s children, let us keep our eyes open this Christmas, for those who need real love. Like Amy who became an embodiment of love to the enslaved girls of Dohnavur, may we too showcase Jesus’ real love in everything we do so that the true love of God for which Christ was born may be experienced by all.

How has the love of Christ made a difference in your life? What can you do to show love to others during this Christmas season?

Dear Jesus, teach me to love others the way You do, without expecting anything in return.