In the animal kingdom, the primary driver of behavior is survival. Animals do everything they can to keep on living another day. They focus their energy on those things and only those things.

With a glaring exception: motherhood. (And in some cases, fatherhood.)

Animal mothers spend vast resources protecting, feeding, and training their young even though this threatens their own survival. God built animals with this instinct so entire species could survive, not just individual animals.

In humans, God built something on top of motherhood. He created us in His image, so He built us with love.

Sure, we naturally seek our own survival and that of our offspring. But we also have the capacity to reach beyond that to help friends and even strangers. We volunteer time and money for people we will never even meet. When we see someone in pain, we want to help stop that pain, even if it causes us a little more pain.

“Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.” (Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭16,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

That is the beauty of being God’s child, the beauty of love. It is a sacrifice. It goes counter to my animal, survival instinct. But it’s a sacrifice that makes the world a little more like Heaven. And a sacrifice that makes God smile.

Dear God, thank you for all you have blessed me with in this life. Guide me today in the best, most loving and effective ways to share those blessings with people in this world who are hurting. Thank you for loving me and for giving me a capacity to love.