Sylvia had a busy morning.  She had her beauty shop appointment at 9 and wanted to do her shopping for the week while she was in town.  She spent the last of the money she had budgeted for this month on groceries, stopping at several different stores to make sure she had the lowest prices as well as the highest quality for each item she purchased.  She was nearly exhausted when she finally made it home later that afternoon.  She grabbed a grocery bag and headed toward the house.  As she opened the front door she found Jeffery on the couch sitting suspiciously close to a young lady she had never met before.  It took all of Sylvia’s poise to hold her tongue.  The first thing Sylvia noticed was that the young lady needed serious instruction on personal hygiene, not that she produced an unpleasant odor.  But it was the wild unbrushed hair.  The dirty looking feet, legs, hands, arms, neck, and face; Sylvia truly hoped that Jeffery had not been sitting around kissing this dirty young thing, “who knows what germs she could be spreading.”  Then she noticed her clothes, tight and skimpy, wrinkled and stained.  Sylvia thought, “Not a hint of modesty there.”  She shook her head, nearly speaking her opinion as she passed them by, but she quickly caught herself and instead greeted them cordially as she entered the kitchen and placed her bag on the cupboard and gathered her bearings.

              All that Sylvia thought about was how to get this young little tramp out of her house and away from Jeffery before he did something stupid with her.   Then she had an idea, “I know her type, I’ll make her uncomfortable, then she will leave on her own.  Then I’ll have the opportunity to talk to Jeffery about how to find some nice girls.”  She called to them out in the other room, “Children, do an ol’lady a favor, could the two of you bring the rest of those groceries in the house?”  After a dozen trips in and out of the kitchen, Jeffery had not introduced his friend, so Sylvia took the initiative, “Dear, I didn’t catch your name?” “Lousia” she peeped, in a sweet little voice.  Sylvia gave her an insincere smile, “What a beautiful name.” Sylvia was actually surprised that the young girl didn’t seem to mind the inconvenience of getting off the couch and hauling grocery bags.  Knowing that nearly all the bags had been brought in, Sylvia asked “Lousia dear, you wouldn’t mind helping me put some of these groceries away, would you, while Jeffery finishes that mowing he promised to do?”  “After you have washed your hands, of course,” pointing Louisa to the sink.  Lousia’s eyes sparkled in delight that she might be of some help.  Jeffery looked bewildered as his grandmother cleared him out the back door.  Sylvia perceived that this line of manipulation might be backfiring as the girl seemed to like putting groceries away, so she quickly changed directions.  Regretting she didn’t have any dirty dishes or laundry, Sylvia decided that young people hate to listen to older people talk, so she sat down and began to lecture her captive about all the things she didn’t like about young people today, a subject Sylvia spoke very long and eloquent about.  Louisa didn’t argue or seem defensive and she didn’t seem to mind to just listen as she put the groceries in whatever place Sylvia would point. 

              When the groceries were put away, Louisa politely stood waiting for her next instruction.  Still hoping to be rid of the girl, Sylvia asked in desperation, “Do you know anything about cooking?”  Louisa clasped her hands under her chin and gave a little hop, “No, I don’t know how to cook, but I’ve always wanted to learn.” She announced, as Sylvia began to wish she hadn’t mentioned cooking, wondering now how to let Louisa help cook without actually touching the food.  Changing the subject, Sylvia blurted, “Young lady, do you own a brush?”  Suddenly Louisa looked wounded and fragile, “You don’t like me, do you?” She asked.  Now afraid she had hurt the poor child, Sylvia backtracked, “Nonsense, lets fry some chicken.”  “But first, wash your hands again, and this time above your elbows.”

              Sylvia spent the rest of the afternoon cooking with Louisa, but now not to be rid of her.  Sylvia found she was actually enjoying Louisa’s company.   Louisa stayed for supper and after supper Sylvia hounded Jeffery about having that sweet girl over more often.   There was something on the inside of Louisa that Sylvia didn’t see from the outside.  Unconditional love values others for themselves rather than for how they look or what they do or what they have done.   As shown by Sylvia’s example accepting others is a necessary step in learning to love others unconditionally.

Discussion Questions:

1.  What were some of the experiences you have had when you realized that you were not being accepted by someone? 

2.  What are the steps you need to take in order to accept people who you are uncomfortable with?

3.  How does your walk with Christ affect your ability to love others unconditionally?

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