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While in China, our group had a very important choice: to love and invest in other people or to not love and not invest in other people.

This trip was unlike any other trip that I have ever taken. Normally trips like this only require small bursts of interaction with people and you hope that during those small windows of time that you can make a lasting difference in somebody’s life. However, this trip was different because it provided an opportunity to fully invest yourself for two weeks into other people’s lives. 

But you had to choose. You had to choose to invest into other people. You had to choose to let other people in. You had to choose to let your guard down. You had to choose to love.

As the final day of camp came, many of our students (who made the choice to love) were very visibly upset when having to say goodbye to the people they invested so much of themselves into. After the final goodbyes and hugs, the tear-filled students would make their way over to me where I would hug them and give them the same consistent message.

I would tell them that loving is always worth it. The easy way would have been to coast through the two weeks, enjoying the experience, but keeping everybody at an arm’s length distance. That way your heart is protected to not feel pain while parting ways. But that is the easy way out.

I would tell them how proud I was that they chose to invest into the lives of others. They put their hearts on the line, shared their lives, and dove into the lives of those around them, making the most out of the opportunity and having no regrets. That is why we were there. That is what we signed up to do.

Finally, I would tell them one last thing. The sadness and tears that you experience in the moment of having to say goodbye to somebody you invested in is extremely difficult. However, the amazing relationships you built, the experiences you shared, and the memories you made are well-worth those moments of sadness while saying goodbye. LOVING IS ALWAYS WORTH IT.

Let me encourage you today.

Whether you are sitting in your office, in your dorm room, or in your home, make the choice to invest in other people’s lives. You do not have to go to China or some other trip to do that. There are people in your life – at your work, at your school, in your neighborhood, in your family – that God is wanting you to invest in and make a difference in their lives. Will they hurt you? They could. Will it be difficult to say goodbye to that relationship when your life changes seasons? Absolutely. Do not let those fears of being vulnerable and open paralyze you to keep people at an arm’s length.

LOVING IS ALWAYS WORTH IT.