I love you, bro – with arms open wide

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in You. (Psalm 33:22)

I’ve never been a fan of holidays created to promote the sale of overpriced products under the guise of demonstrating love. Call me cynical, but in my way of thinking, Valentine’s Day serves one of two purposes: 1) the recipients of cards, chocolate, and compassion feel overwhelmingly loved in receipt of the same; or 2) the recipients who don’t receive cards, chocolate, and compassion feel rejection and despair in a more pronounced way on this Hallmark ® holiday than on any other day of the year. 

I speak from experience. I remember back to my high school days when students could gift silk roses to each other on Valentine’s Day. These outward tokens of affection could be purchased and sent anonymously or openly, tangibly advising both the recipients and the rest of the student body that secret or overt admirers really existed. I used to dread the delivery of those roses during class time – knowing full-well that no flowers would be delivered to me. 

And that’s okay – because I’ve always known how much my Savior loves me. His love matters more to me than anything.

As Christians, we are all called to demonstrate love continually – no matter the day, hour, or reason. There can be no more elaborate contrast between the children of God and the rest of the world than the love that we exemplify – despite our circumstances. As Christ said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

A perfect example of this unique type of love is embodied in a story I read recently about a Utah father. While transporting his three daughters to basketball practice, Joe Tuia’ana spotted a young man poised precariously on the side of an overpass, just past a parked car. The youth had his hoodie pulled over his head and stood on the opposite side of a security barrier. This young man was preparing to end his own life by all outward appearances. Shocked into action, Tuia’ana stopped his car a short distance away, advising the oldest of his daughters to call 911 and remain in his vehicle. 

“I got out of the car and immediately thought, ‘If you screw this up, not only is this young man going to die, but your daughters are going to see it happen,” Tuia’ana said. “I nearly passed out due to fear and anxiety.” 

While slowly approaching the young man, who appeared to be in his 20’s, Joe called out to God, praying for divine assistance in this life or death encounter. 

“From that point, I felt inspired to do what I thought Jesus would do: walk slowly to this young man, with your arms open to him,” said Joe.

“When close enough, I told him, ‘I love you. I love you, bro,’” Tuia’ana recalled. “He looked at me with fear and pain, crying so hard. With my arms open to him, I repeated, ‘I love you. I love you, bro.”

A few minutes passed until the young man finally surrendered to Joe’s demonstration of tenderness, responding with a simple cry of “help.” 

Tuia’ana immediately jumped up, hugged the youth, and guided him back to safety. 

“I held the young man in my arms like he was my own child and cried with him,” said Joe. “No words said, no questions asked. Just time for him to hug and sit with someone who loved him in peace.” 

“He was hurting, and I felt like he just needed someone to love him.” 

First responders arrived moments later. After de-escalating the situation and moving the young man to a nearby parking lot, Joe stayed with this hurting soul for a bit longer. 

While Tuia’ana never learned what propelled this young man to nearly ending his life, Joe remains hopeful that he will see him again at some point. Moreover, the encounter left this dad with a greater appreciation of the importance of demonstrating compassion. 

“This was an amazing, horrible, beautiful experience for my life,” Joe said. “I now view people with a greater love and with open arms. My heart needed an upgrade, and this young man gave it to me.”

As this story demonstrates, tenderness and devotion should be as much a part of our existence as breathing. While florists, candy, and card-makers may view Valentine’s Day as an annual opportunity to amass profits, the rest of us should never limit our affections to one day a year. There are 364 other opportunities to do so, 24-hours a day, with no need for calendar prompting. 

God demonstrates His unfailing love to us in the beauty of His creation, the air that fills our lungs, and the sending of a Savior who also stretched out His arms of compassion – on an old rugged cross. 

“I love you, bro,’ arms open and no questions asked.” Those are more than words expressed by a stranger to a starving soul, hungry for affection, standing on a bridge. They embody the single most perfect message of unconditional love that has ever been demonstrated on earth. 

Nothing can match the unequivocal, unrelenting, unfailing love of God. Even better, no holiday is required.

#UnfailingLoveofGod; #ChristianLove; #DemonstrateLove; #LoveOneAnother