What’s the greatest love story you’ve ever heard? Since I can’t see you or hear you, I’m going to throw out some possible answers:
- Your own love story? I’m sure it’s a good one, but I have one that’s better.
- Romeo & Juliet? It ends badly, but it’s an ok story. Mine is better.
- Cleopatra & Marc Anthony? Another one that ends badly. Again, mine is better.
- Johnny & June Cash? It’s sweet and more current but doesn’t match mine.
- Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift? A newer version of Johnny & June, but same result.
- Prince Harry & Meghan Markle? I’ll pretend that no one thought of this one.
No love story – past, present or future – comes close to the one I’ll share with you. It’s described in 1 John 4, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us(me).”
You can grow to love someone for several reasons: a person is kind to you; a person is attractive to you; a person is impressive to you; a person shows good qualities to you; you are lonely (don’t laugh – it’s possible!)
Regardless of the reason(s), here’s why it can’t compare to my story: there is NOTHING about me that impresses God, nothing He needs or finds attractive! If I say, “God loves me just the way I am,” I’m fooling myself. The truth is, “God loves me in spite of the way I am.”
My love toward God is responsive – I respond to His love. His love toward me is proactive – God initiates the relationship: “We(I) love because He first loved us(me).”
What prompts God to unconditionally love me when I’ve done nothing to warrant His love? John says it’s because “God is love.” But I ignore Him, hurt Him, ridicule Him, slander Him! Doesn’t matter – “God is love.” But John’s not finished, ‘Wait, there’s more!’ God not only loves me in spite of me, but He was also willing to sacrifice to show me how much He loved me: “He sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our(my) sins.”
Wow! What love! What a story! Yet, it’s not just my story – it’s our story – it’s the world’s story. A familiar Bible verse affirms it: “For God so loved the world that He gave…”
What do we do with the gift of this amazing love? We do what God did – we become proactive – we give of ourselves for others.
#8 on Myers-Davis 16 Foundational Values is: Kindness – we treat others with gentleness, grace and understanding. Every client, every family, every contact is blessed by this amazing love story each time The Best Team Ever shares it through acts of service. And never forget – you are greatly loved!
–Jackie Chesnutt, Chaplain and Emotional Support Coach for Myers-Davis (8/24/2026)
