There are multitudes of un-adorable and ‘not-so-cute’ characters out there who are absolutely NOT easy to love. Jesus loves them all the same. He loves the stinking, unshaven, elderly, homeless, overweight drunk men and women looking for a handout as much as He loves my pure and innocent, precious little children and grandchildren.
I cannot imagine holding a down-and-outer tightly, kissing his dirty cheek, peering into his eyes, and saying with sincerity the way I do with my own kids, “You are my brother. I love you.” Nevertheless, the words of Jesus are clear:
“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost,” (Matthew 18.10-11).
I need to stretch my imagination.
