A while back, a friend of mine encouraged readers of her blog to read Bob Goff’s book “Love Does”.  She even offered to mail out free copies with the stipulation that once the book had been read that the recipient would pass the book on to another person.  After several months of her offering the challenge to read the book, I sent a request to her asking for a copy.  I could have purchased my own copy, I had the funds available, but I wanted her to know that her offer meant something,  that her message was heard, and I wanted to be held accountable to reading the book. Like the boxes full of unfinished craft projects, I also have a shelf of unread books, I needed that accountability. 

When I received the book, with a bookmark included, I immediately started reading.  At first I couldn’t read it fast enough, I anxiously awaited any free time to read another chapter.  But as I read, I also started learning and started to find that I wasn’t quite ready to read this book, and so it sat.  It sat for several months.  It moved from the upstairs to the downstairs always with the intention of getting it finished, but the spine never cracked and the pages never turned.  I still wasn’t ready. 

You see the book is about love.  It isn’t about how love is a wonderful thing and that Jesus wants us to love.  It doesn’t make you feel all warm and fuzzy.  It doesn’t give you the “I’m a good Christian gal because I know Jesus and I pray every night and I do my devotions and I read my bible and I go to church and I donate to charity “ pat on the back.  Nope, if that is what you are looking for, this book isn’t for you.  This book challenges you to do love.  To get off your duff and go out into this messed up world and show love.  To bite your tongue when you want to lash out or prove an unnecessary point and speak words of encouragement and grace instead.  To forgive those who trespass against you. To love the unlovable.  To forgive unconditionally.  To do these things because that is what love does and that is what Jesus does. 

As I said before, I wasn’t ready for this message when I first received the book.  I was going through some tough times with my [child.]  I was going through some discouraging things at work.  The neighbor’s kids were riding their bikes through and tearing up my yard and the garden.  I was growing chin hairs.  I enjoyed telling telemarketers, clerks with poor customer service and people who let their dogs poop in my yard just what I thought.   I was restless, unhappy and I was spiritually dehydrated. 

But after several months, I picked the book back up and started re-reading it.  This time I was ready.  This time I got it.  This time I realized I can do love, even when my brain and tongue tell me otherwise.  Although the book isn’t large, I’ve taken my time reading it, because this time I’m absorbing it fully.  I want to know everything that love does.  I want to learn how I can do love every day, with everyone I encounter, and not to even have to think about it. 

I’m changing.  Little by little.  I still slip up, I’m human that way.  But I consciously make decisions every day to change the words that come out of my mouth and the actions that my mind and body perform.  Baby steps.  I have a ways to go but I know the changes I’m making are making changes in other people’s lives because that is what LOVE DOES.

I love you, friend. Thank you for blessing my weekend with this book review/personal story. I’ve missed your writing.