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How is Jesus’ Love Like a Second Language?

Living out the traits Jesus valued usually means saying things that are incredibly difficult to say. Scroll down to learn more.

Learning to say “I love you.”

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Saying “I love you” and truly meaning it can be hard for so many reasons. Maybe it’s hard because you’re afraid to say something you don’t mean, or maybe it’s hard because to say those words is to make yourself more vulnerable than you’re willing to be. Either way, getting our hearts and our words to align is no small task, but we think doing just that is a big part of what it means to be pure in heart—one of the character traits Jesus calls blessed. It’s not easy, but we think it’s worth it, and Arno’s story is testament to that. Jesus’ love is like a second language. It takes practice.

The loss of my brother really made me reanalyze those three words “I love you”

Mona’s Story: Learning to Say “Goodbye.”

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Goodbyes are hard. Final goodbyes can be devastating. So what was Jesus talking about when he said “Blessed are those who mourn”? We sat down with Mona to talk about grief and goodbyes to see what she’s learned and how she’s grown from her own life experience. It’s a moving story and a testament to the power of learning to love the way Jesus did. His love is like a second language. It takes practice.

It’s okay to mourn; it’s okay to feel those feelings.

Scripture References: Lucas 22:47

Learning to say “I forgive you.”

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Whether your heart language is Italian like Giuliano’s, English, or any other, “I forgive you” can be one of the hardest things to say—especially when it comes to long standing brokenness in family relationships. It can feel almost impossible. But Jesus taught that a merciful life is a flourishing one, so how can we take steps toward learning forgiveness even when it’s hard? Jesus’ love is like a second language. It takes practice.

“I didn’t forgive him, so I don’t know it. Is it fair to forgive him now?”

Scripture References: Mateo 27:33-45

Mely’s Story: Learning to Say “I Was Wrong.”

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Admitting when we’re wrong is incredibly difficult. It hurts our pride, it empties us. But Jesus praised humility. He said, “Blessed are the meek.” We talked to Mely about the tug-of-war between humility and pride—about balancing perfectionism and our own limitations. Mely discovered something that we think Jesus pointed to—that there is serious strength found in admitting weakness. It’s just not so easy to do because Jesus’ love is like a second language. It takes practice.

What kinds of traits did Jesus encourage?

You see the traits Jesus valued—mercy, humility, mourning, integrity, peacemaking, to name a few—are all incredibly difficult to live out, but they result in a richness and fullness of life that can’t be found or faked elsewhere. Learning these traits and even learning how to say simple phrases like “I forgive you,” “I love you,” “I was wrong,” or “goodbye” open up a whole new world and way of living. It’s almost like learning a second language. If this language feels new to you and you want to learn more, scroll down to find a few videos that dive a bit deeper into what it means to live those traits out in real life.

Scripture References: Daniel 56: 22-90, Lucas 22:47
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