We often times hear the saying, “love has no borders” or, “love speaks no language." I believed this when I heard it. I comprehended it and threw it in the back of my brain to dust off and deal with it later.

I soon realized that this saying would take root in my heart rather than my brain. “Love has no borders," alright it sounds a little bit cheesy at first. When I think of love I think of: happy little families, people getting married and how amazing it must feel to fall in love. Something that came to mind recently is that I have been taught that I am fearlessly and wonderfully made, that I am loved by a God who shows grace each and everyday and heals the sick. On top of all of that, he loves endlessly without ceasing. So how come I never thought about this a little bit deeper? Why did I decide to take that as a surface level statement? This is in fact a love greater than I could currently grasp but only begin to dissect.

For me personally, it took traveling across the world to develop this concept. I witnessed children who demonstrated love in deeper ways than I had seen before, who did not come from perfect little families, with loving parents and a good home life. These kids lived by the grace of God and walked around like little light bulbs shining so bright for Christ’s kingdom.

These children with such small faces and huge hearts taught me that love truly does not hold any borders. Their smiles were contagious and they were content with being where they were. It was a privilege and an honor to be in their presence. It turns out, I needed them far more than they needed me.

No matter where we stand with God or with each other, we could all learn to love a little better. I am guilty of taking my anger out on others, of shutting people out and not recognizing the importance of community. The world is not all bad and we can keep making it better by working on demonstrating love in the littlest ways like: by helping others, being a shoulder to cry on or just getting out of our own thoughts for a little while and seeing what other people need.

In the past I have sat in my own pity party, stuck in my bubble of a comfort zone and refused to let myself display any sort of love to anybody. I realized love is not about letting people in my own borders, it is about me stepping out of them and showing others the love I have received, even if right now, I am only beginning to comprehend it.