Out of all the things we learn by heart as we make our way through life, there is nothing more grounding, more sensible, more liberating and more heartfelt than Jesus’ succinct summary of the commandments. When we all give love, love returns to us a thousandfold. We can then make our journeys in the world, on the wheels of love. We can rest, guarded and kept safe by that same love. We draw upon love to power our thoughts, words and actions. Love fulfills ten commandments, and 613 and a million.
Theologian Frederick Buechner writes, “To lend each other a hand when we’re falling, perhaps that’s the only work that matters in the end.” Buechner’s words are just another way to think about the Great Commandment. We all need a hand sometimes to make it through our inevitable troubles, sorrow and pain. God’s love for us, which we extend to one another, is a steadying, reassuring hand that reaches out to everyone. When our neighbor is falling, when we are falling, we can – and we are called to – keep each other safe.
This message is excerpted from “A hand when we’re falling” by Elise Seyfried in the January/February 2023 Gather magazine.
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I guess you need to subscribe to this each year. I realized recently I hadn’t gotten my Daily Word since end of December. It might be nice if you could let people know they need to sign up each year.
Hi Roxana! Thanks for your message. You do not need to re-subscribe each year. I apologize that you did not receive Daily Grace posts after December. I can see from your profile that messages are being delivered successfully, so hopefully this issue is resolved. Thanks so much for subscribing to receive Daily Grace! Blessings, Beth