Article April 27, 1981 Issue

Are you willing to love?

HELEN A. DEL NEGRO

Does it sometimes seem hard to love? Certainly. When someone has treated you unjustly. When a friend has been disloyal. When you have been lied about or unappreciated. The instances could go on and on.

So perhaps the question should be put another way. Is it important to love? Yes, it is essential. It is essential for one's health as well as for happiness. It is essential for the healing of mankind's woes. An unwillingness to love induces, perpetuates, and compounds problems of every sort.

Christ Jesus put it this way: "If ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?" ^{Matt. 5:46.} But to love those who do not love you brings reward beyond measure. Why? Because unselfed love is a great healer. It bridges the gap, repairs the breach. John tells us why. "God is love," ^{I John 4:16.} he explains.