Love Everybody?

My 8 year old (who some days has the mind of a 30 year old) asked me the other day, "Do you love everybody?" "What do you mean by everybody?" I asked. Her response was "Everybody, in the whole world." I thought for a moment and said "to a degree yes. We are commanded to love everyone, just as God loves us. But it's not in the same way as I love you or daddy." I thought that would have been the end of the discussion, but she took it a step further. Her next question was "what about people who hurt you?" Wow. How do I answer that one. Like most people, I've been hurt on different levels. I had an experience where I was assaulted when I was younger. Maybe terrorized would be a better word. But regardless of the terminology, it took me a long time to battle the fear it left behind. So this was one of the things that came to mind when she asked me this question. And quite frankly I didn't have a good answer for her. I stuttered and stammered through and now I don't even remember what I told her. But ever since then, this question has been replaying in my mind. I have gotten over the fear and terrors, and I've gotten over the pain of other hurts in my life. But could I honestly say I love those people that hurt me?

I had to look up the definition of love, and here's what I found.

* a strong positive emotion of regard and affection;
* any object of warm affection or devotion;
* have a great affection or liking for;
* beloved: a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
* a deep feeling of sexual desire and attraction;
* get pleasure from;
* a score of zero in tennis or squash;
* be enamored or in love with;
* sexual love; sleep together: have sexual intercourse with;

If I were to answer based on those definitions, I would have to say no, I don't love those people. But then I looked up God's definition of love. And here's what He has to say:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

The words "it keeps no records of wrongs" jumped out at me and I was reminded that, yes, no matter what, we must love others. We don't have to like what they've done, but we must love and show God's love to them. I choose to walk in this love today and everyday. How about you? Is there someone you have been withholding love from?