Love at its Greatest (Love Series #3)

Epilogue: Love at its Greatest

"This is real love—not that we loved God,

but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

- 1 John 4:10 (NLT)

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Epilogue: Love at its Greatest

DAVID was taught since he was a child, that when someone asked, "When is love the greatest?", the answer is simple...

Hanggang sa paglaki niya ay dala-dala niya ang laging tinuturo ng mga magulang niya. David and his three brothers along with their Ate Cyla was raised in a Christ-centered family.

Their family is loud, fun, loving, and forgiving. Iyon ang lagi niyang nakikita. Iyon ang lagi niyang nararamdaman.

Takang-taka nga sa kanya ang mga kaibigan dati kung bakit mas gusto niyang nasa bahay kaysa lumabas kasama ang barkada. Lumalabas naman si David. But he just likes spending more time with his family.

Lumaki siyang umaapaw ang pagmamahal sa pamilya nila at ang kailangan na lang niyang gawin ay ibahagi iyon sa ibang may kailangan pa.

"The greatest love you can give to your friends, David, is Jesus. You can share. You can show. You can extend grace, rather than condemnation, to the people around you."

His father would always tell him, during their "boy hang-outs".

Lumaki si David na lagi silang nagba-bonding ng Daddy niya. Isang buong araw na sila lang ang kumakain sa labas, o kaya minsan tinuturuan siyang kumanta at mag-gitara o piano... Alternate silang magkakapatid na inilalabas ng Daddy nila.

His parents made sure that they are tightly bonded inside the family. No favorites. Pantay-pantay ang atensyong nakukuha nila.

His Mom does the same. Kahit hanggang ngayon na binata na silang lahat, his Mom still treats them out for ice cream one by one or most of times, simultaneously.

"Daddy, what if they don't like Jesus and they don't like me as a friend because I love Jesus?" natatandaang tanong niya noong nasa pito o walang taong gulang lang siya.

"It's okay. Still be kind to them. Quietly go and share to the next friend."

"But what if they reject me, again? Paano ako magkakaroon ng friends, Daddy? Gusto ko ng maraming friends!"

Ngumiti nang mabait ang Daddy niya. He patted his head and kissed his cheek. "The Lord will provide real and right friends for you, anak. Huwag kang mag-alala. God is faithful. If you always, always remain in Him, you can have whatever you ask for in Jesus' name."

Well, his father's right. God gave him three brothers! They are his best buddies in the world. Madalas lang nagkakapikunan, pero sila-sila lang din ang magkakampi at nagkakaintindihan sa bandang huli.

So, when David is in grade school, he started sharing to his classmates about Jesus. Nakarinig siya ng iba't ibang tawag sa kanya, "weirdo", "church boy", "good boy", "saint"... whatever.

Nang nasa middle school at high school na siya, naging "banal", "clean boy", "virgin", "religious", "righteous", "perfect boy", "Jesus boy"... ewan niya ba.

David was able to ignore. Siyempre, sa bahay ang iyak!

But how can he turn back from Jesus if his parents were a living example that He is real?

"I don't want to be a Christian, anymore! I don't want to be the good boy! I don't want to share Jesus!" he ranted after a cry. "I don't want to love like this if I always end up being laughed at! Being bullied! I don't want them calling me names anymore!"