Choosing love

The way we are known

There are plenty of ways people try to identify themselves in the world—by what they believe, what they accomplish or where they stand on an issue. But Jesus offered something far simpler, and far more challenging.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,” he said, “if you love one another” (John 13:35).

Not by how persuasive you are.

Not by how visible your faith is.

Not by how much you get right.

By love.

Again and again, Jesus returned to this invitation: Love God. Love your neighbor. Above all else, love.

And yet, choosing love is rarely as straightforward as it sounds.

Love is a choice

We often think of love as something we fall into—a feeling that arrives when circumstances are right. But the kind of love Jesus describes is more intentional than emotional. It’s a decision we make, sometimes daily, sometimes moment by moment.

Choosing love looks like patience when frustration would be easier. It looks like compassion when judgment feels justified. It looks like showing up when walking away would cost less.

This kind of love isn’t abstract. It lives in real places, among real people, in the middle of real need.

When Jesus commanded his followers to love one another (Mark 12:30-31), he wasn’t speaking in metaphors. He was talking about presence. About care. About seeing people fully and responding with dignity.

Love shows up in listening without trying to fix. In offering help without conditions. In staying—even when the situation is uncomfortable or unresolved.

In the stories we share here, we see this kind of love lived out every day—through Salvation Army volunteers who return week after week, through donors who give quietly, through communities that choose compassion over indifference.

Love, in these moments, isn’t loud. It’s faithful.

Love that sets us apart

Jesus said love would be the marker—the thing that sets his followers apart. Not because it draws attention, but because it changes the atmosphere around it.

Love creates space for healing. Love restores dignity. Love makes room for hope to take root.

This is the love that notices the person others overlook. The love that believes change is possible, even when progress is slow. The love that doesn’t rush the story toward a tidy ending.

When love is lived this way, it becomes a witness all its own. It’s something we return to—especially when the world feels heavy, divided or exhausting.

Jesus knew loving one another would be hard. That’s why he didn’t simply encourage it; he commanded it. Not as a burden, but as a way of life that leads to something deeper.

Love doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. It doesn’t have to solve everything to matter. Even small acts—offered consistently—can shape lives in lasting ways.

And when love is chosen again and again—especially when it’s costly—something unexpected happens.

Joy grows.

Often, it grows alongside the work of caring, serving and staying present through the hard parts.

Joy shows up in relief. In connection. In the moment someone realizes they’re not alone.

This is why love and joy are so deeply connected. When love is shared freely and honestly, joy follows—not as a reward, but as a fruit.

And when that joy is shared—through stories, through service, through everyday acts of goodness—it multiplies.

Choosing love doesn’t require perfection or certainty. It begins with noticing. With paying attention to the moments where care is needed and deciding to respond.

It might look like listening longer than planned. Giving when it would be easier to hold back. Offering kindness without knowing how it will be received.

Wherever you find yourself today—receiving help, offering it or somewhere in between—the invitation remains the same.

Above all, love each other deeply (1 Peter 4:8a).

Not someday. Not when we feel ready. But right where we are.

Because when we choose love, we reflect the heart of Christ.

And by this, the world will know.

Do Good:

• Join us in giving joy to families who are experiencing poverty, hunger, job loss and more. Your generosity offers joyful reassurance that even during our most challenging times, we are not alone.