“She’s just old and fat and wants to love everybody.”
“She’s just old and fat and wants to love everybody.”
by Pastor Bec
February 2025
Jon and I were in Key Largo at the end of January. We went there to warm up from the winter cold of east central Florida. (Yes, my Northern friends. This is funny.)
It was so good to be in the Florida Keys once again, after twenty-five years!
We couldn’t believe it had been that long. We used to take the kids and go camping on Big Pine Key, with friends, and boats, and an occasional jaunt into Key West, most Christmases and Easters. After I went into full-time ministry, this was no longer possible. Now that I’m retired, it’s possible once more! We’ve always loved the Keys. There’s definitely a very chill vibe happening there. You can’t help but relax. The fish and shrimp are incredibly fresh, the sunsets are dazzling, and the water is so stunningly cerulean blue it takes your breath away.
Our first morning there, we visited a nearby park. We enjoyed it’s seaside lagoon, complete with a ladder and a manatee. (No we didn’t swim - ‘water was still cold.)
We explored the lush mangroves, and then took a walk through the park.
Midway along our exercise path, a woman came along walking a very large pug dog.
I sidestepped the sidewalk and walked on the grass to avoid the path of the dog. She immediately spoke up and said, “Oh, don’t worry about her. She’s just old and fat and wants to love everybody.” I laughed in response and said, “That sounds like me!”
She laughed too and agreed it described her as well.
I’ve thought a lot about that phrase afterwards. There’s something very freeing about embracing a less than flattering picture of yourself, and admitting you just want to love on people. You just want to help them. You just want to give them encouragement. Healing. Peace. Comfort. Hope. And yes, Love.
These are very Biblical principles. They come straight from our Heavenly Father’s throne room. In this month of February, which celebrates Valentines Day, and Love, it’s important to remember that God is the author of love!
The apostle John, who was part of Jesus’ inner circle, and considered a father figure to the early church later on, wrote in his letter 1 John, 4:16 that “God is love.”
The very definition of God is love. And the very definition of love is God.
Jesus, the Son of God, said in John 13:34, 35 “I give you a new commandment. Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another everybody will know you’re my true followers.”
The old dog was a rescue dog. She knew what it was to be hurt. Having been rescued, she just wanted to express her gratitude through love. Big sloppy drooling licks. A fat bottom wagging a short tail. Jumping up on the object of her affection with delight.
We may not use these same methods, but I’ve noticed we’re given opportunities to show God’s love to others daily. We can help everyone wherever we go. Smiling. Saying hello. Listening. Sending flowers. Sending cards. Sending encouraging texts.
As someone who is in her first year of retirement and healing from serious illness, I’m slowly discerning next steps. One thing of which I’ve become aware is that we can love people wherever we go, simply with words of affirmation, comfort and encouragement.
Take a chance. Make an effort to strike up a conversation with a stranger. There’s usually always a point of connection if you ask a few generalized questions.
(Where are you from? Where do you live? How do you like this weather?)
This Valentine’s Day month, won’t you take some time to show some love?
Offer some hope? I’ve also come to realize hope cannot be emphasized enough!
It’s so important. If you are in need of comfort, hope and love yourself, let me just transfer some over to you right now.
While I don’t really think of myself as old, or fat, I definitely want to love everybody. Won’t you join me on this quest? It’s so much fun to walk away from a conversation knowing you’ve helped to put a smile on someone’s face. Or offered fresh hope, comfort or encouragement.
Happy February. You might be old, or young. You may be fat, or thin. Regardless, you, too, can love everybody!
by Pastor Bec
February 2025
Jon and I were in Key Largo at the end of January. We went there to warm up from the winter cold of east central Florida. (Yes, my Northern friends. This is funny.)
It was so good to be in the Florida Keys once again, after twenty-five years!
We couldn’t believe it had been that long. We used to take the kids and go camping on Big Pine Key, with friends, and boats, and an occasional jaunt into Key West, most Christmases and Easters. After I went into full-time ministry, this was no longer possible. Now that I’m retired, it’s possible once more! We’ve always loved the Keys. There’s definitely a very chill vibe happening there. You can’t help but relax. The fish and shrimp are incredibly fresh, the sunsets are dazzling, and the water is so stunningly cerulean blue it takes your breath away.
Our first morning there, we visited a nearby park. We enjoyed it’s seaside lagoon, complete with a ladder and a manatee. (No we didn’t swim - ‘water was still cold.)
We explored the lush mangroves, and then took a walk through the park.
Midway along our exercise path, a woman came along walking a very large pug dog.
I sidestepped the sidewalk and walked on the grass to avoid the path of the dog. She immediately spoke up and said, “Oh, don’t worry about her. She’s just old and fat and wants to love everybody.” I laughed in response and said, “That sounds like me!”
She laughed too and agreed it described her as well.
I’ve thought a lot about that phrase afterwards. There’s something very freeing about embracing a less than flattering picture of yourself, and admitting you just want to love on people. You just want to help them. You just want to give them encouragement. Healing. Peace. Comfort. Hope. And yes, Love.
These are very Biblical principles. They come straight from our Heavenly Father’s throne room. In this month of February, which celebrates Valentines Day, and Love, it’s important to remember that God is the author of love!
The apostle John, who was part of Jesus’ inner circle, and considered a father figure to the early church later on, wrote in his letter 1 John, 4:16 that “God is love.”
The very definition of God is love. And the very definition of love is God.
Jesus, the Son of God, said in John 13:34, 35 “I give you a new commandment. Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another everybody will know you’re my true followers.”
The old dog was a rescue dog. She knew what it was to be hurt. Having been rescued, she just wanted to express her gratitude through love. Big sloppy drooling licks. A fat bottom wagging a short tail. Jumping up on the object of her affection with delight.
We may not use these same methods, but I’ve noticed we’re given opportunities to show God’s love to others daily. We can help everyone wherever we go. Smiling. Saying hello. Listening. Sending flowers. Sending cards. Sending encouraging texts.
As someone who is in her first year of retirement and healing from serious illness, I’m slowly discerning next steps. One thing of which I’ve become aware is that we can love people wherever we go, simply with words of affirmation, comfort and encouragement.
Take a chance. Make an effort to strike up a conversation with a stranger. There’s usually always a point of connection if you ask a few generalized questions.
(Where are you from? Where do you live? How do you like this weather?)
This Valentine’s Day month, won’t you take some time to show some love?
Offer some hope? I’ve also come to realize hope cannot be emphasized enough!
It’s so important. If you are in need of comfort, hope and love yourself, let me just transfer some over to you right now.
While I don’t really think of myself as old, or fat, I definitely want to love everybody. Won’t you join me on this quest? It’s so much fun to walk away from a conversation knowing you’ve helped to put a smile on someone’s face. Or offered fresh hope, comfort or encouragement.
Happy February. You might be old, or young. You may be fat, or thin. Regardless, you, too, can love everybody!
Posted in Rebecca Hyvonen
Recent
Archive
2025
2024
2023
February
September
November
December
2022
2021
January
March
August
September
2020
April
August
December
2019
July
September