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December 11, 2020

For the Love of Pineapples

December 11, 2020 by JILLIAN KITTRELL LOVE Reflecting God
For the Love of Pineapples
  • by JILLIAN KITTRELL
  • Comment
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35

Of all the things I love in life, not a whole lot ranks above Haitian pineapple. I used to eat it daily until my mouth turned raw. Blended it into smoothies. Squeezed it into juices. Spread it liberally on top of homemade pizzas. Or just plain by the handful. My husband, on the other hand, would put whole slices onto cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise… a delicacy he picked up from a visiting volunteer from Tennessee. Now as much as I love Haitian pineapple, I did have to draw the line there.  


My love for Haitian pineapple was well known in our community. So much so, that on the day I went into labor with my little Jake, one of our employees brought me a bowl full of pineapple chunks and asked my husband if she could feed them to me while I fought through contractions. He obviously declined her generous offer, but to this day, thinking of that big bowl of pineapple makes me feel so loved. 


Jesus said that people will know we will belong to Him by the way we love each other. In other words, love is our best testimony, even when it comes in the form of sweet, delicious pineapple.


My coworker from Haiti knew this to be true. Christ’s presence in her life was undeniable, not because of anything she said, but because of the love she gave. It was so genuine, so pure, and so gracious that it could only have come from one Source. 


I want my life to be the same. I want Jesus’ love in me to be as bright as the morning sun. I want to be known for how well I loved others. How about you? Today, I want to encourage you (and me) to be known for loving others well. Today, who in your life needs a little pineapple?

Closing Prayer
Dear God, Thank you for being a God of love. It is your love that sustains me. Your love that makes me whole. Your love that gives me purpose. I want everyone to know your love, for it is perfect! God, as I seek to serve you this day, I ask that you speak to me and lead my steps. Who in my life needs to know and experience your love today? Who needs an extra hug? A word of encouragement? A helping hand? I want to love them, just as you have loved me! Amen.
Resources
Book: Love Does by Bob Goff I don’t know many people who haven’t read this book. But whenever I find one, I recommend they read it immediately. Bob’s whole life is one grand adventure of loving others with the love of God. He is so passionate and energetic, and his stories in this book have inspired me so much!
Question for Reflection

As Christians, we should be known for our love. In the cultures you serve, especially when there are language barriers, how do you “show” love to others?

Comments
Jillian Kittrell
December 11, 2020

Showing love without words can be difficult, and sometimes you just have to get creative. Earlier on in Haiti, I noticed how much time our girls spent braiding each other’s hair. Every day they sat together and braided while laughing and sharing stories. So one day I went and joined them. They laughed at first, not thinking I would have any skills. But eventually, they passed me a comb and taught me how to braid. Even to this day, they still pass me the comb whenever we sit together. Braiding hair can seem like such a little thing, but it has been one way I have found to love our girls and show them some much needed TLC… even without saying a word.