Just Love Them

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We’ve all been there—watching someone we love go through something hard, wanting to make it right, say the perfect thing, or pull them back. But sometimes, the answer isn’t solving— it’s one less letter...

It’s loving.

Not fixing them.
Not judging them.
Not rescuing them.

Just loving them.

That doesn’t mean staying silent.
It doesn’t mean pretending to agree.
And it doesn’t mean tossing out a passive-aggressive one-liner.

It means showing up—again and again—with a heart that says:
“You matter more than your choices or your circumstances. I’m here. I’m listening. I’m not going anywhere.”
Or this: “There’s nothing you can say or do that will make me love you any less.”

Jesus told a story about a shepherd who left the ninety-nine to find the one.
The one who wandered.
The one who got lost.
The one who chose their own path.

The shepherd didn’t bring punishment.
He brought presence.

That’s a different kind of love.
It doesn’t keep score.
It doesn’t retreat when things get messy.
It shows up—steady, patient, committed.

It’s a love that puts the other person first.
That doesn’t hinge on agreement or being repaid.
It’s the kind of love that stays.

It’s what God gives us.
And I think it’s what He invites us to give others.

Mel Robbins talks about the “Let Them” theory—releasing control. I’d take it one step further: Don’t just let them. Love them.

Love them when they show up late.
Love them when they stop reaching out.
Love them when their choices scare you.
Love them when they don’t make sense.

Not with fake smiles.
Not with shallow clichés.
But with presence.
With empathy.
With grace.
With fewer lectures and more listening. 

What I’ve learned is this:
When we stop trying to play God in someone else’s story, we begin to see the image of God in their struggle.

And something else happens, too—
We start loving ourselves better.

What if the person who needs your love most is you?

Not someday.
Not after you’ve figured it all out.
Today.

Jesus said, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you’ve done for Me.”
So maybe loving them—including yourself—is what God loves most.

And if no one has told you lately: You are worth loving, too—flaws, doubts, and all.
You are known, loved, worthy, chosen, and enough.
Go easy on yourself.
Be kind to your heart.
Love who you’re becoming.

Mother Teresa said, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”
Maybe that includes the parts of yourself you’ve been avoiding.

So if you’re a parent watching a child drift—
If you’re a leader running low—
If you’re a friend unsure what to say—

Don’t give up.

Just love them.
Not because they’ve earned it.
But because God loved us first.
And because love plants seeds you may not see bloom today—but they will.

Today, take one step:
Write the note. Whisper the prayer. Give the hug. Speak the words you’ve been holding back.

You don’t have to say everything.
You don’t have to solve anything.

Just love them.

And don’t forget to love yourself, too.

That might be the most Christ-like thing you do today.

Love changes everything—starting with you.