About 35 years ago, somewhere on the grounds of Darlington Primary School, my friend Robin and I could sometimes be found playing a game we called “Jenny and Jeff”.  When I was 6 and Aunty Jenny was newly married; trendy (married in a mini-dress!!!) beautiful; thoughtful and funny - she was entirely to be admired in our eyes.

 

She is the person who (next to my folks) has probably most impacted my life as someone I have watched and loved my whole life long.  Do you have an “Aunty Jenny”?  Everyone should!  The most wonderful thing about her being the interconnected way she oozes love and faith. 

One such time was when I saw her and Jeff at an unexpected visited to their church.  While I’ve now forgotten whatever the existing difficulty was - what I do remember was our exchange - involving very few words.  As she saw me, she opened her arms to me whereupon I had a little sob while she patted me on the back saying…“Oh, love”.  Eventually pulling myself together I managed to say “I’m OK really” and she said “I know”.  End of exchange.

No questions.  No greeting!!!  No need to know specifics. Just love.

In longing to be like her in some small way, I’ve begun to see that loving that way is often not naturally inborn but comes through the lessons and knocks of life where loveand grace are desperately appreciated. When we’ve known the experience of someone loving us - free of conditions, attachments, hoops, amendments and judgements we in turn can learn to give of that same love in the same way. May we each know a little of both; the receiving and the giving of unconditional love.