It seems like an easy enough concept to understand, doesn't it? But, what about practical application?
We all know how much we l-o-v-e ourselves. Nearly every human's life is centered around our own likes, interests, and wants. "What will I do?", "What do I want?", "How does this affect ME?". To quote from, admittedly, one of my favorite movies, "then I realized how many stupid times a day I use the word 'I'."
Obviously, most people aren't CONSTANTLY self-centered, although there are those select few that you wish would just sew their mouths shut rather than utter one more word about their all-so-important lives. I also realize that this is a very hard concept to follow for two reasons. 1. The world will naturally make you cynical and 2. Plain, good old-fashioned self-protection. How many times a day do other humans just make you shake your head in disgust? Lies, cheating, hatred and just absolute rudeness on the part of the other people will make you feel disgusted with the human race quite quickly. And the second one is just protection of your own heart. If you stop to care about every other person, how often is your heart going to get broken? A lot. You leave yourself open and vulnerable to other people's cruel hearts or you begin to care about people and it hurts when they are taken away from you. This is why I truly, truly believe this is one of the hardest things that God has ever asked us to do and is exactly why Mark mentions that it is one of the greatest commandments.
I've had a harsh, unexpected encounter with the practical application of this biblical principle. For 9 months on Facebook I've followed a page called I Love Liam Lyon. You can go there to read about his amazing story and amazing family, but the gist of it is this; he was born with a heart condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. He has battled it his entire life. Since the first of the year I've followed this little boy and his family, coming in contact with them through another of my Facebook friends. It came to the point where I literally looked for his posts throughout the day. His family constantly posted pictures and updates of him and I just LOVED to see them! His smile brightened my day and when he was going through tough spots I worried about him and prayed for him fervently. From January through the end of April I followed him through my friend. Then it got to the point where I kept looking up his page to see what he was up to so I finally just "Liked" his page. At that time he had 25,000 or so followers.
It seems stupid, doesn't it? I truly care for this little boy, almost as if he were my own. In our cynical world, it seems ridiculous. But, I'm not the only one. As of this moment he has 83,906 followers, and the number is growing. And you say, "Chala, you're an idiot. How can you love a little boy and his family that you've never met?" And I say to you, I don't know, but I do. I can't explain it. I can truly say I love this little boy AND his family. They are extraordinary people. They have fought and fought for their little Lyon Cub, prayed and trusted. These people and their son/grandson/brother/cousin/nephew are true heroes. They have fought a disease with cheerful good grace, as many smiles as they could muster, thankfulness for the life of their baby, and faith that God knows what He is doing, even if we do not.
THIS is what loving your neighbor as yourself is all about and I fell upon the true meaning of it unintentionally. 80,000 + people care what happens to a family they don't even know, and hurt for them in their time of grief. You see, the little Lyon Cub lost his battle with HLHS on Monday evening. The only way I would be more upset is if I had lost one of my own children. My heart hurts for them, a family I've never met, but that I love anyway. No, I didn't follow them out of nosy-ness, I followed them out of love. And I follow them still and wish they could know how much I share in their grief. I had hoped to visit the little man one day and bring him a mess of Curious George stuff.
Liam's life was not in vain. I've learned something from him and I know his other followers have, too. I can only hope and pray that we all keep the lessons in our hearts and practice them often. To hug your babies tight and be thankful for what you have. To love other people, even if it seems impossible. Yeah, people can be jerks. You don't have to do the same and it doesn't give you an excuse to lower yourself to bad behavior. While I used to pass over their pages, I've now begun "Like"-ing pages of children battling childhood diseases and other issues. Yes, my heart is at stake because I will undoubtedly come to love them, too. However, my heart will make it and these people need to know that their children are loved, that people are on their side through the battles they are facing and that there are decent human beings out there who don't just look the other direction, as I too often have. Were it your child would you want people looking the other direction?
To Liam's family; he is missed most of all by you, but I just want you to know that the love his followers feel for him is not trivial and is not a lie. He was an extraordinary little boy and I miss him. NO, I never met him! I wanted to, but didn't need to; the fascinating social media we call Facebook allowed me to meet him through you, share in your story and come to care about him. I don't know why God called him home when He did, but I know that God has everyone's best interests at heart and I know Liam is so happy with our Father! I didn't get a chance to meet him on Earth, but he is on my list of people to search out in heaven, because he has changed me.
A baby girl named Charlotte and her family also touched my heart and you can read her story here.
According to Liam's family, his services are Sunday Sept. 9 at 2pm in Poteau, OK. Location pending.
A Child Of Mine (To All Parents)
Edgar Guest
I will lend you, for a little time,
A child of mine, He said.
For you to love the while he lives,
And mourn for when he's dead.
It may be six or seven years,
Or twenty-two or three.
But will you, till I call him back,
Take care of him for Me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you,
And should his stay be brief.
You'll have his lovely memories,
As solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay,
Since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught down there,
I want this child to learn.
I've looked the wide world over,
In search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes,
I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love,
Nor think the labour vain.
Nor hate me when I come
To take him home again?
I fancied that I heard them say,
'Dear Lord, Thy will be done!'
For all the joys Thy child shall bring,
The risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness,
We'll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we've known,
Forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him,
Much sooner than we've planned.
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
And try to understand.
