Love is All That Matters

Today’s reading: John 13:34-35

Today’s reading reminds me of a wonderful lesson my wife taught me several years ago over dinner with my father and me.

At the time, Dad and I were both very active in several political campaigns, including  U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s bid for President. (Dad actually had a lengthy chat with Dennis before a rally in Corpus Christi, and, for a week or two, I thought some well-connected friends might help me land a job on his professional staff at his headquarters in Ohio.)  So, he and I were disappointed — even bitter — at the way the presidential race was going that summer. Dennis had received little support in his months-long campaign and had all-but withdrawn his name. Meanwhile Dad and I had both let our passions get the better of us on his behalf. We had even made a few enemies amongst Democrats across Texas for our refusal to stop pushing for Dennis.

“Why don’t you guys just give it a rest?!” one (former) friend had recently yelled at me.

This, of course, soon became the frustrating topic of conversation that night in which we’d invited Cheryl to join us for a “relaxing meal.”

The meal was anything but soothing as Dad and I continued our practice of recent weeks: we could not be shaken from our commiserating.

“I can’t believe all the crap they gave you at the convention in Houston,” I told my Dad. “I’m proud of you for standing up for Dennis. I wish our local people would give you and me more support on that. Most of them are secretly fans of Dennis anyway.”

“Yeah, I know,” my Dad answered. “If everyone who was actually a fan of Dennis would not be afraid to say so, he would already be in his second term as president!”

“Uh, huh!” I said.

And then I noticed that Cheryl had long-since tuned us out. I’ve never known her to have much interest in politics.

What she did next changed my life.

As I was forming in my head the next angry thought I was going to share with Dad, I saw my wife’s eyes brighten. She had spotted a baby across the room, and the child had seen her too.

Cheryl burst forth with a laugh and a wave, and the girl responded with the same. The two kept waving and laughing at each other, oblivious to the others at their tables. (The baby’s parents were involved in an animated conversation with their friends.)  The cuteness of that scene will stay in my mind — and heart — forever. They were both having a great time!

I forgot about Dennis Kucinich and the Democrats and just quietly winked at Dad and pointed to Cheryl.

Dad finally noticed what was happening and started laughing and waving at the baby too.

Then I did.

Then all our commotion finally caught the glance of the girl’s parents who started giggling at all this craziness happening some 20 feet away. They laughed and waved back at us, too, of course.

Our waitress stopped by to check on us. Yep. You guessed it. She paused from her busy night for some waving and smiling too.

I looked around and saw  we’d caught the attention of at least three or four other tables. My wife had turned that precious little baby into a star! The restaurant was filled with laughter!

This is the night that I gave up on the idea of a “career” in politics. I now tell people that more important stuff happens at 3151 Reid Dr. (my church’s address) than could ever happen at 1600 Pennsylvania!

And this is reason #1,786,987 why I will forever be thankful to God for my beautiful wife. May God continue to bless her richly so that she can continue teaching (to me and many others) the same lessons she taught that night. It happens to be the same as today’s reading:

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (Verses 34-35)

Thanks be to God for love! May I (and we) always rejoice only in it.