July 5, 2023 - Agape Love

     Last week I had a small part in the funeral of Larry Clevinger’s sister and Lisa Owens’ mother, Betty Sue Owens.  I don’t usually share much about funerals, but most of you weren’t in Elkhorn City to attend the funeral.
     I said at the funeral that Larry and I butted heads last week like two old goats.   Knowing what was going on in my life, Larry was adamant that I didn’t need to make the 3+ hour trip to Eastern Kentucky.  Agape love on his part wanted the best for me.
     In 30 years of knowing Larry I don’t know of one funeral which I felt that I should have attended that I didn’t choose to attend.   As close as Larry and I are and knowing what Betty Sue meant in his life and Lisa’s life made me as adamant that I would do everything possible for me to be there for him, Lisa, and their family.  It was agape love on my part that wanted the best for Larry and Lisa.  And somehow I believed that my presence there would be the best for Larry and Lisa and the rest of their family.
     Was it a long a tiring day?   Sure it was.  Was it the right place for me to be?  I believe that Larry would tell you that it was.
     Our love for each other wanted what was best for each other.
     Agape love leads us to do things for others that we might not normally do.  Sometimes agape love puts us in difficult circumstances when we must choose to do the right thing.
     The best explanation of agape love I have heard came from the old sage Vae Duff who is now in heaven.   Vae said that agape love is when there are two pictures taken of you and a friend.  In one of the pictures you look good and your friend doesn’t.   In the other picture you don’t look good but your friend does.   Agape love means that you pick the picture in which your friend looks look and you don’t.
     Agape love.  May I respond today with agape love toward others.