Dear Friends,
Living the experience of ALS these past few years has taught me so much about love. Things I enjoyed doing with others or by myself have had to change and adapt to this new truth in my life. Others have had to change and adapt to me as well.
A few days ago I went to a jam session with some friends. It was fun but it implied a lot. A few years ago, I would have hopped in the car, driven there, walked up the two measly steps to the front door and plopped myself down on the couch—or even just stood around and listened. Now others’ involvement is exponentially increased. Someone must drive me. Someone must pack and unpack my wheelchair. Someone must help me up the steps.
People have chosen to love me despite the truth of me changing. Pizza will never love me or have any emotion for me. A dog may stop loving me if I can no longer feed it. A person may choose to love me, even if the initial cause of that love changes. In fact, love can increase as more or new truth is known.
How beautiful is that? Human love is so beautiful! How is it that we can love like this? The amazing thing about human love is that, being capable of complete and total self-love, we can actually opt to love someone else more than ourselves. We learn this from God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” (Jn. 3:16). “The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us…” (1 Jn. 3:16). How beautiful is that?!
God’s love is so beautiful!
Count on my prayers!
Nicole Buchholz
