Unexplainable Love in Any Language
I log on to complete my Spanish lesson in Duolingo. I attempt a lesson every day, even though progress seems painfully slow.
But in another tab, I see a note pop up in Messenger. It is from my friend Sofy. Completely in Spanish.
I like to understand things. I want them to add up. 2 + 2 = 4 and that’s that.
But some things happen I can’t explain.
I still have items around my house from our two mission trips to El Salvador summers ago. Papers, jewelry, trinkets, mementos.
With each item, I see a person. I hadn’t expected the outpouring. These people. I didn’t know they’d carve away a chunk of my heart for keeps in El Salvador.
How could I have known?
Oh, never underestimate the love of God between his people.
He has ways of binding hearts together we know nothing about.
When I first met Sofy, we could barely communicate. Through words anyway. But no matter. She was one of the unexplainable.
She invited Jenna and I into her home before our evening worship service to pick up something she’d left behind. We had our Spanish/English dictionary with us to communicate beyond gestures.
When I commented on the lovely artwork that filled her home, she pulled this piece off her shelf. She handed it to me. I admired it and asked how she’d made it. With individual magazine pages.
But when I tried to give it back, she said no. She wanted me to have it. It took her hours to make, I’m certain. Yet she could so freely give it to me, someone barely a step above a stranger?
It mattered not that I understood few Spanish words. The gesture of love I recognized.
I’ve never forgotten Sofy. And thankfully she’s never forgotten me. We occasionally send each other messages on Facebook. On this day we share about each other’s lives. She’s since retired and enjoys her grandchildren. I ask how many. She has three. I tell her about my one granddaughter, and one on the way.
What did I do to deserve her friendship? Nothing.
Lord, you are so good. And so unexplainable.
When I remember back to that breezy Salvadorian night, unexplainable love bound us together. The love that the Father gives his children for each other. Love that is fueled beyond words. Unaccountable and mysterious, yet certain and plain.
Unexplainable tokens of love. Extravagant gifts from the Father’s heart, via his other kids, straight to my heart. Blessings that exceed expectations.
What do we do to deserve them? Nothing.
Sometimes you can explain love.
Sometimes you can’t.
And that is fine with me. In any language.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:9
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Have you received love today for reasons you can’t explain? Thank God for it. Then extend unexplainable love to someone yourself tomorrow.
Please share your thoughts in the comments.
revised from the archives
so true. Love is so much more than we can imagine or explain. I love how you expand your heart and mind. You are a wonderful role model for how to live, Lisa!
What a sweet blessing in so many respects! How nice to have a continuing friendship from that time.
God’s love is immeasurable so we had to see it instead of just read about it. You got to see it too! In a “magazine”! (; So hard to learn a new language, for me anyway – what a great motivation you have to persevere!
Oh, what a beautiful story, Lisa! Isn’t wonderful how love just happens when we least expect it? Our God is so good!
Blessings!
That is such a touching story! What a beautiful gift of friendship.
Love is love in any language. What a beautiful generous gesture from your friend. Good luck with the Duolingo Spanish lessons. I took them too last year and just started again this month. I hope I’m not too old to learn Spanish!
That’s so awesome.
The blessings and surprises we don’t expect from our Father are so amazing. Miraculous really.
That’s so cool that you get to share that bond that language can’t keep apart.
Sometimes you just can explain love…in any language. Not sure there are truer words spoken. After all, how do you explain God’s love for us?
Oh, you got me reminiscing about my trips to the Dominican Republic. I can’t wait to get home and look through my books. The love was unbelievable. Here I was there to serve and found myself being served over and over again. They gave what they had. I struggled to take it, but I realized it was love being given.
I can speak a little bit of Spanish but not much. However, I learned the universal language is a smile.
Thank you for sharing with us at Grace & Truth.
Blessings,
Maree