There is a story of a young boy who lived a long time ago. It seems he unfortunately developed polio at three years old. Times were very hard then and his parents hadn't any idea what to do with him. One day they took him to a hospital and never came back for him.
The hospital had connections with various people that would take on a child like him. They found a place for him on a small farm. The lady who had the farm was an amazing lady and could mix up a batch of natural ingredients and cure many things. People came to her from all over to seek her help. The interesting thing was that he was a little white boy and she was an African American.
She took this young boy in and cared for him with all the wisdom and knowledge she had. Every night she vigorously massaged his legs to the point great pain that brought tears to his eyes. Night after night, year after year she tended to this boys needs. She knew that water had power and there was strength in the water so she added a new thing to her daily routine with the boy. Once a day, she had her nephew carry this boy to the river and put him in. He splashed and played and moved around as best he could. She prayed time after time for this boy who was no more than a stranger in need when he arrived. She knew God could do great and wonderful things so she continually sought Him out.
He grew taller but his legs changed little. He still needed his braces and crutches. This wonderful little lady never stopped her massages or prayers, never. One day as he tells his story, she came into his room and told him she had a surprise for him. She took him out into the yard and leaned him against a tree. She walked away from him, knelt down and told him to walk to her. He was filled with fear and stood frozen. He remembers crying and begging her to not make him try to walk. Finally she yelled to him that the Lord told her it was time for him to walk and for him to walk! His trust in her eventually overcame his fears and he took a step, then two, then another until he reached her and they wept. He was twelve at that time and with two more years of such practice, he finally walked normally.
For years he lived a white boy in an African American world. He never was a perfect fit in either. One day the circus came to town and when it left, it left with one extra person, that young boy. That boy one day became a small town newspaper editor.
On a particular day, a young man from the small farm he spent so many years learning to walk on came by. The wonderful lady who had been at his side so many days massaging his legs, putting him in the river and pleading with God to help him walk was dying. She asked for him to come see her and he did.
He described the day remembering how he held her hand as she spoke in a whisper now and then. Suddenly her voice grew loud and she said, "It's so beautiful", and then she passed. He talked about how she seemed all aglow, smiling for a few moments, then it was gone.
The young man, now editor said that it was a long time ago but that he never stopped thinking of her. He talked of how much he learned from her but that there was one thing so special he learned. She taught him that "Nothing is a barrier when love is strong enough. Not age. Not race. Not anything".
Doesn't that just resonate truth with your very soul? When love is strong enough you can love very old people, average age people and even the little ones running and screaming around the store. When love is strong enough you can love white people, yellow people, black, red and brown people. When love is strong enough you can love the baker, biker, attorney, dentist or banker. When love is strong enough you can love the poor, the wealthy, the middle class. Yes, there are no limits to who you can love, when love is strong enough.
The next time you might want to hate, the next time your desire to love falls by the side of the road, the next time you find it hard to find a particular person lovable, think about the little African American lady of modest means and the little orphan white boy and remember the words, "When love is strong enough ....... there are no limits".
The next time you feel your ability to love being challenged, ask yourself, "Is my love strong enough?"
Love somebody. Love Everybody. Love with a love that is strong enough and has no barriers. God bless you.