What Is Love?

My first trip to India changed my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined. When I departed in September, I had no idea what to expect. I only knew the Lord had a great plan for this time. After a week of training camp and team building with the 17 other people I would be living with for 3 months, we left the comforts of America and headed to India where I found a new home. India was nothing like I imagined and it definetly was not all pleasant, but while I was there I fell in love like never before. I'm not even sure that I really knew ( I mean REALLY knew) what love was until that point. Love is unconditional. Love doesn't take into consideration what caste you are in, what you are wearing or not wearing, and love truly is blind. I learned what love was while having to wipe off the dirt on my face and arms after playing with a bunch of kids in the slums and leper colonies that don't have parents who keep them well bathed and dressed. I learned to love while letting a little boy wipe another little boy's spit off of my face with his left hand (which is considered the unclean hand in India). The Lord taught me unconditional and true, deep love again and again as babies fell asleep in my arms and as I had no idea where their parents were, I just sat on the steps holding them. He taught me love as I heard orphans screaming praise to His name. I learned new depths of love as I lived with 17 other people in one house for three months with very little alone time. I learned that love truly knows no language.
It was in Ajmer at the orphanage I will be heading back to on Feb. 27 that I fell so deeply in love with 21 of the most precious kids. I can hardly believe that I have only spent 2 weeks with them, yet I love them so passionately. I would do absolutely anything for them. The love I have been given for them is surely from the Lord and it is unlike anything I have ever felt before. While I was with them, I was complete and I was overflowing with joy. When I had to leave and I did not know if I would ever see them again, I felt like life was spinning out of control. My heart literally hurt and I could barely breathe. Now, as I am counting down the days until I return, I can barely stand the anticipation. I am beyond excited to go and hold them in my arms. I absolutely cannot wait to bandage their boo boos, to wipe away their tears, to sit with 3 of them in my lap at one time, to pray with them, to play catch with bottle caps, to sing with them, to rub lotion on their arms and legs and then tuck them into bed, and to just simply love on them. It is so humbling to me that the Lord has chosen me to go and pour out His love on them for this time. Love, as I found out, truly can make a huge impact on the people the Lord places in our paths. Our mission really is that simple: just simply and passionately love all people everywhere at all times.
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1