Wrapped in Love

1 Peter 4:8 (First Nations Version)

Above all, never stop loving each other, for like a warm blanket love covers a great number of broken ways.

The comforting warmth a blanket can give on a chilly day or a cold night is something we all have enjoyed since we came into the world. Babies are swaddled, children are tucked under comforters, and adults sometimes enjoy the warmth of quilts made by family members or previous generations. The first people who walked this land had only blankets, animal skins, and wood fires for keeping warm. In the rich imagery of these cultures, love is like a warm blanket. This nurturing love offers a chance to learn from our mistakes and faults. If someone in our lives needs forgiveness, love can help restore harmony and connection. Love acts as a powerful covering for failings within families and community and even ourselves. It can help with feelings of security and safety.

We are asked in this verse to love “above all.” Instead of focusing on our broken ways the teachings of Jesus focus on love. When we walk the road of love it becomes easier to build unity with the people around us, with the marginalized, and with those from cultures or groups different than our own. Wounds heal and strong bonds are built as the blanket of love covers and forgives, encourages and brings peace.

Think for a moment about where you, in your life journey, might benefit from being surrounded by extra comfort and warmth. Then visualize a colorful, thick blanket wrapping fully around you, bringing peace to the broken places, the heartaches, or the worries. This is a never-ending love, always present, and worth sharing with everyone who walks beside us.

Prayer:

Loving God, we offer you our broken places and broken ways, knowing that you heal and restore us each day. Help us walk the good road of love, reaching out to those who need comfort. AMEN.

This devotional was written by Jenny Green and read by Amy Large.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.