We hear the word “love” so often – from fast food slogans to romance novels – that sometimes the significance of the true essence of the word gets stripped away. What does it mean to really love someone? How do you know that you are loved? These are questions that our mentees wrestle with, as love has many times been used as a manipulative tool or used against them. Who can blame them when they find it difficult to know if someone truly loves them?

Often, it takes many loving interactions over time to help them build a new understanding of what love actually means. When they see love in action, not just in words, they can begin to experience and believe in a new kind of love.

We see love in action all the time at Allies, in big and small ways. The staff, mentors, and volunteers embody love as one of our core values because we model our love after the One who loved us first – Jesus. As we engage with Jesus and His love for us we can offer a selfless love that is unlike any other. Hope is provided through love – and as we both experience this love ourselves and offer it to one another we know lives will be changed.

Mentor coach, Julie Deem, embodied this kind of love with a mentee just this month. As “E” looked forward to being released from the Department of Corrections, Julie worked for weeks with other service organizations and probation to ensure she had a place to go upon release.  E’s mother surprisingly made an appearance at the court hearing, only to find out she was intoxicated. Julie and another service provider were also present to support E, and what began as a morning court date ended in an all-day affair ensuring E had clothes, transportation, a cell phone and a safe place to stay while she gets back on her feet.

It was a long day full of learning curves and new experiences for Julie – a relatively new, but determined coach. She could have stayed home that day. She could have come to say hello and wished her well and been on her way. But instead, Julie rolled up her sleeves and said, I’m with you, I’m for you, and I’m here to walk with you today and all the days moving forward.

When the system was “done” with E, Julie and Allies continued walking with her, showing her every small step of the way that she is loved. Love is truly a verb.