Love Story

June 2008

Fran grew up believing that she was an inferior human being because she was morbidly obese. Her father drove that idea home when he favored her brother and gave her his paternal leftovers. Her classmates did, too, when they shunned her or catcalled after her. “Here comes Fatso Frannie.”

We lived in the same part of town and sometimes walked home from school together. Even so, I wasn’t exactly proud to call her my friend. Since I was an outsider, too, I wanted a friend who made me feel important. Fran didn’t fit that description.

We grew up and drifted apart. Then, about twenty years later, we made contact again. But she had remained morbidly obese throughout her life and as a result of complications, died not long after.

I wish I had known when we were growing up what I know now.  For, even though I went to Sunday school occasionally, I didn’t know that God loved outsiders like Fran and I and wanted us to love Him back. That we were precious to Him. That the kids at school were wrong when they put a price tag on us. Only the God who created us had a right to do that. And He esteemed us worthy of the death of His only Son.

That’s what I’d tell Fran if she were here.

But she’s not. So I’m telling you.

Imagine what it would be like to be Fran. To be the person you know who is ignored or shunned.

Pray meditatively to discover a way to make his or her life easier.

Practice  God’s love toward that person in a tangible way.

“And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34 GNB)

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