Karanja

Three years ago, I thought I had nothing only to realize later that I had everything I ever needed. Three years ago, I had my sister.

I loved her deeply, though invisibly. I never really showed it, because I didn’t know I had to. After all, she was my sister she knew I loved her, right? So I passed my time the way many younger brothers do: by giving her a hard time. I hacked her phone, read her diary, and even prank-called her “boyfriend.” I made her life miserable, or so I thought, because that’s how we show love sometimes.

Then fate or the universe, or whatever you may call it took her away. I lost my sister to cancer.

That was the hardest thing I have ever been through. As painful as it may sound, even the death of my father did not hurt this deeply. I felt empty. I felt frozen while the world kept moving. By nature, I am an emotional person, but when my sister died, my emotions seemed to die with her. I didn’t cry. I smiled, but inside I felt dead. It was hell in broad daylight.

Then it hit me I loved her. And now I could never tell her again. I could never hold her again. I missed her.

Family is everything. We need family for everything. And here’s something important: family does not have to be defined by blood. When you love a person or even something deeply it becomes family to you. Love creates family.

Love is powerful. Even God Himself, in His grace and honor, loves. And whom does He love? Us His creation. Say it with me:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.”

We hear these words often, but we rarely understand their weight. Think about it. God Almighty the Creator of existence itself, of the universe and realities we cannot even comprehend—gave up something He loved.

From a human perspective, if a project fails, we discard it and start again with better material. But love does not follow the laws of logic or practicality. Love stays.

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, accepted the mission. He came, He lived among us, He taught, and He died for our sins while we killed Him. Not once did He curse us. Not once did He hate us. Instead, He said:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Those words were not weakness they were protection. Jesus knew the Father. He knew what divine justice could look like. And in grace and humility, He stood between us and judgment.

I imagine Him, nailed to the cross, mocked and tormented, speaking to His Father with love:

“Father, forgive these young and ignorant creations. They are misled. They do not understand the pain they cause. For them to live, I must die. Hold back the angels. Turn away this once for the sake of Your creation.”

That is love.

Christ’s death is a grace we do not deserve, yet it is a grace we are thankful for. Love is so powerful that Jesus left us with one commandment that surpasses all others: Love.

You may hate me for being a Christian, but I know what happened so that I could have this chance at life. I love God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit with all my heart. I know it may make some uncomfortable, but I don’t care. I love knowing that I am loved so deeply, that so much was placed on the line for my redemption.

Yes, I am a mess. I sin. I fall again and again. But a King died for me. That is what matters. I love the One who gave everything so that I could live.

I may not understand all the science behind existence, but what I feel deep inside assures me that there is a God in heaven who gave up everything for my salvation. That, my friend, is love.

And remember: whatever you love becomes family.

I am proud to say that I belong to the Lord’s family, and I love being saved.

Give praise to God. Amen.

Ephesians 3:18–21 — Please read this.
Glory be to God. Amen.