A Day to Remember Gifts of Love in our Lives

Thomas Dodd

February 13, 2010

As a young adult, my mother was diagnosed with high blood pressure. This was in a time when the medicines were not very effective. One dangerous activity for a woman in her condition was childbirth. And so, when she got pregnant, she hid the fact for a bit longer than three months. She did not want anyone telling her to end the pregnancy, whether that message would come from her doctor, her husband or her family. As a result, she carried me to term.

The time then came for the trip to the hospital. Unfortunately, her blood pressure did become a factor during the delivery and she came close to dying. Thankfully, with God’s help, the doctors and nurses were able to bring her through her ordeal.

Though I did not know it at the time, this was my first experience with a love so profound that the one who gave it to me was willing to risk even life itself to give life to me.

Another example of such self-giving love came to me when I was 18 years old. My mother had died years before due to her high blood pressure. My father’s alcoholism had gotten worse and after a confrontation with him, I fled the house, never to return. A month after that incident, the Seibel family from my congregation invited me to live with them. It was an amazing gift, and one that I gladly accepted.

For the next three summers, as I went through college, I lived with them. As they shared themselves with me, I was privileged to become a part of their family. Thankfully, these warm bonds continue to this day.

I am glad to say that there have been other strong examples of such love in my life as well. I have received love from my wife, my children and a number of friends. Each experience has been a great blessing in my life.

For me, these occasions of love remind me of the great love that God has for us all. This love is portrayed in many ways, but Jesus did a wonderful job in the parable of the lost sheep. The plot goes like this: A shepherd has 100 sheep and one wanders off. When the shepherd discovers this, he goes off in search of the lost sheep. The shepherd searches until he finds the sheep and then in joy, puts it on his shoulders and carries it back to safety and to the rest of the sheep.

This is a story, which, for me, highlights that God cares for and lovingly pursues us all. In compassion, God searches for us as we, too, can get lost and threatened by the wildernesses in our world, in our families, and in our lives.

For me, on this weekend when we celebrate Valentine’s Day, I am glad to remember the life-changing gifts of love that have come my way. I pray that we all receive such gifts from God.

Thomas Dodd serves as pastor at United Lutheran Church in Eugene. This column is coordinated by Lane Interfaith Alliance to offer inspiration, share personal spiritual experiences and bring a deeper understanding of individual faith perspectives with the intention of blessing our community and world. For information, visit www.laneinterfaithalliance.org or call 541-344-0430.