I know you said, “What in the world! How can this be spiritual?” Believe me, if it were not for the lesson learned, I’d never bring this topic up!

About the time I was in 4th grade, a pitiful, scrawny kitten showed up at our house. I love animals. I always have. I was determined to love and feed this little fella until she was fat and happy. Our dogs seemed to like her. Afternoons after school I played with her, held her, and poured out a 9 year olds love on her. She played and ate until…

One night getting ready for bed I noticed 4 red blotches on my arms. Two on each arm. My Mama was mortified. Ringworm! She was so upset. The kitten “disappeared” and I was heartbroken. I didn’t know how the little fella would live without our food and water. Mama was not concerned.

The splotches got larger and soon found their way to my hair. I had large areas where the hair fell out. It was a long summer of doctor appointments, medicine…and being made fun of. When you’re nine years old and treated as if you have leprosy…it’s just ugly. More than once, I defended myself.

But here is what I learned even that young. Sometimes we can love with our whole heart and it doesn’t turn out well. Sometimes the sincerest love, freely given, comes with a cost. Sometimes the cost is very high.

Love is wonderful. Our Abba commands us to love Him and to love one another. It doesn’t mean things will go well and we will be loved in return. Sometimes we are even asked to lay our life down for the life of another.

What then? Do we wall up our hearts and never love? Absolutely not! Love may come with a high price. Love is, however, priceless.

So love one another.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34 NASB