There are many kinds of love. Often when people think of love or hear the word “love,” they think of romantic love, also known as amore in Latin. But today, I’m writing about a different kind of love. Phileo love, which means “brotherly love” in Latin.

What does it mean to have brotherly love versus just love? Well, brotherly love is when you basically love your best friend, or neighbor, or anybody who isn’t your significant other or family. Loving them like you would love your brother (or just family in general).

In Hebrews 13:1, “Let brotherly love continue.” Okay, so when reading it you kinda think, “Easy, loving people like my family. Moving on…” But! There’s more! So, these four words say, “Let brotherly love continue.” We have to start, and continue, and never finish loving others as Jesus did. That’s hard. In fact, it’s impossible! We can’t perfectly love others, only with the Holy Spirit’s help and with God’s good grace!

But, when we love our neighbors, friends, family, enemies, random people at Costco, etc, we tell God: “I love You, I love this person You made, and I know that You made no mistakes with them. Everybody here, while no one is perfect, is just how they are supposed to be, and that’s the way You love them.” It’s amazing that God can help us do tough things like that.

~Willow