I had a good friend in Minnesota who, whenever someone would upset her or make her angry, would say “Johnny is a child of God, too.”  That stuck with me, and I find myself repeating the phrase in my mind whenever I feel the urge to condemn or judge instead of show love and grace.

As Thomas Merton once said, “Our job is to show love without stopping to inquire whether or not someone is worthy.”  To that, I add: because everyone is worthy in the eyes of God.  Love creates worth.  It is often the people we perceive as most unlovable or most difficult who need our love the most.

So, my challenge to all of us is to freely offer love and grace, without judgment or condemnation.  My challenge is to follow Jesus more closely and to love God and our neighbor without condition.  Read John 3:16-17, and remember: we are ALL God’s beloved children, and God loves YOU unconditionally.

Posted by our friend Annie in February of 2017