“True love doesn’t divide, it multiplies.” Mr. George Mathews.

Every Saturday evening us High Schoolers would go to youth group at an older couple’s home; Mr. and Mrs. Mathews. I was easily the quietest one in the group, happy to just observe and listen to all the others in the room.

One time, Mr. Mathews purposely sat beside me and did his best to start up a meaningful conversation. Proof that he succeeded is the fact that I remember it to this day. His talk went something like this:

Reggie, I want to talk with you about love. How true love works. When I married Virginia XX number of years ago, I truly loved her with all my heart. A year later, our first son, Hank, was born. Now there are two people for me to love. Do you think that I loved Virginia less? 

[I probably shrugged my shoulders as my answer.]

I want you to know, Reggie, that love doesn’t divide, it multiplies. The love I had for Virginia didn’t get smaller or weaker, it doubled because of Hank.

Then we had four more sons and then finally Pete was born. This left me with 7 people to love. Do you think I can love each one of them with all my heart, or is my love divided?

[Probably another shrug of the shoulders from me].

Reggie, love doesn’t divide, true love multiplies! With every addition to my family, God caused my heart to grow bigger. I love Virginia now more than ever. I also love each one of my sons, and their families, with that very same love. Through this experience I can understand how God loves everyone. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…” John 3:16. This is how true love works.

These words from Mr. Mathews were absolutely on a level I could understand. He spoke in simple language about perhaps the most miraculous thing we can experience.

N.B. This article is excerpted from a manuscript of mine looking to be published—The Foundation Stones of Teaching.