By: Erica Grogg, House Manager
Authenticity.
Every time I read or hear this word, a picture of a young child learning how to pronounce it pops up in my mind. Can you see it? Can you hear it? AWE-THIN-ticity.
This word seems to have been the theme of Sparrow this past week, but before continuing on, let’s examine the meaning of the word, shall we? From reading the definitions as presented by the Merriam-Webster dictionary online, I gather that to be authentic means to be true, worthy of acceptance, and original.
Here’s the thing, though. When I see or hear this word “authentic,” I tend to add another to it: love.
Authentic love.
Hmm… I continue to sit here questioning why this combination of words would be brought to mind so often. I wonder if this is it: if to express authentic love means to show truth, acceptance, and originality, haven’t I just described our Father’s love for us? He, who loves us so dearly, so authentically, opens up His arms for us. This true love so vast we cannot fathom the depths of it is lavishly poured on us. And this love, isn’t this the love we are called to display for all to see? To live a life of authentic love, pointing everyone in our life to Christ, isn’t that our mission here at Sparrow?
I firmly believe that if we authentically share Christ’s love for each girl who walks through these doors, we have fulfilled our calling. Will you join us?
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” 1 John 4:7-12