They are coming. Clean! Everything! Now! The cleaning, cooking and baking would commence. Everything had to be just so. Friends and family were coming over. She would tirelessly serve our guests. This was her way of sharing the gift of love. It was important to her that our guests feel welcome and cared for. They received the best of everything-the best towels, best food and best beds. I was shoved to the couch. Hospitality her gift.

The need to be hospitable still drives her. Age and health prevent her from being able to prepare and give to her guests in the same way she once did. But now I’ve been able to witness something even more beautiful. Her gift of love is coming back to her.

Over the years her “children” have multiplied as she has taken others under her wing. She has played the role of mom to many others. To see others cherish her for the love she has shared with them, overwhelms me.

I want to be like my mom. She lives out the scripture:

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” John 13: 34-35 NIV.

She does this in a manner I dream of. I am grateful for what she has taught me about the gift of love. She has taught me the value of extending hospitality to others. There is always enough food. There is always enough room. There is always enough.

So often I’m tired and don’t want to extend myself to others. It’s more work. I can feel put out. I don’t want to feel burdened, but sometimes I do. Maybe there were times when she did too. She never showed it. She put love first. Those seeds she planted years ago are being harvested. I want that kind of fruitful harvest too someday. I guess that means I need to improve my sharing of the gift of love.

Thanks Mom. After all of these years, you are still teaching me lessons. Seeing you cherished these last few weeks by our extended “brothers and sisters” has brought joy to my heart. Sometimes love is hard but at its most basic it is sharing yourself with others. That is simply what you have done.

How about you? How are you at sharing the gift of love? Do you need work a little harder at it? What are your pitfalls? What are your strengths? We all share our love in different ways. Leave a comment and share how you share love with others and we can learn from each other.