A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you. 

—John 13:34

My two sisters were a key part of my childhood because we were so close in age: Naillie the oldest, Jarelli the youngest, and I right in between them. As sisters, we had lots of fun moments, from dressing alike to imagining what our futures would be, where we would live, and how we would spend our money when we started working. We had big dreams of being successful and giving ourselves everything our parents couldn’t financially afford to give us. We truly loved and cared for each other. But we also had our occasional disagreements, as any sisters would. Sometimes, our parents would have to get involved and remind us to show love to each other.

One morning when I was in high school, I got sick, and my mom kept me home. Naillie was getting ready for school, and we started arguing over where the clothes iron was. Naillie thought I had misplaced it and didn't want to look for it, but I insisted, “No, you were the last person to use it and forgot where you left it.” Naillie replied, “No, I was not the last person to use it; you were.” The argument was cut short because the bus was waiting for her, and she had to leave for school wearing her unironed uniform. I stepped outside and saw my sister running toward the bus. I was thinking, Oh, we will definitely finish this argument later. But we never had the chance. Naillie died that same evening on her way home from school. She got hit by a speeding car and passed away within minutes of the impact.

Many times in life, we get so caught up in our own selves that we forget to value the people who God has blessed us with. We feel as though we have lots of time and forget to reach out to them. And then the day comes that they are no longer there. 

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”  (John 13:34-35). 

Loving the people in our lives may look like picking up the phone and calling, preparing a meal to share, or just making time to listen to them. At other times, loving one another may mean forgiving or asking for forgiveness. Let us try to see the people in our lives the way God sees them because then we will truly understand their value.

The people who God has blessed us with are not arbitrary; they were meant to be in our lives. I encourage you to reach out to someone who you may need to talk to today. Don’t wait; take the opportunity while there is still time.

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