Valentine’s Day comes with many love letters from businesses trying to sell you chocolates, clothes, pizza and jewelry. My husband and I ordered a pizza for Valentine’s Day, and a friend recently asked why we do that. To be honest, all I could muster up was, “Because it’s something different than our usual.”
At times, the same old routine becomes a comfortable pattern. Routine is a good thing; it lays down plans, puts our expectations out on the table, and gives us momentum. But there is a difference between routine and repetition. For example, I call my husband hunny (not to be confused with honey) all the time. This has become a routine name. Now, when I call him John, he thinks I am mad at him. The truth is, I usually am! The fact that I repeatedly call him hunny day in and day out has actually helped our communication.
While routine can shape our days, repetition can reveal how we feel, like when I actually call my husband John, he knows I’m upset. During repetitive play, I become bored when my son wants to read the same book for the 6th time in a row. Truly, I am amazed at how much my 19 month old loves doing the same thing! For me, it takes maybe three times until I start to become annoyed with the idea of [fill in the blank]…again.
In the same vein, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him three times to see whether or not he really does love him, or if he will ditch him…again.
John 21:15-17 states:
Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?
“Yes Lord, you know I love you.”
Simon son of John, do you love me?
“Yes Lord, you know I love you.”
Simon son of John, do you love me?
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.”
Jesus needed to know if Peter truly loved him because he was about to give Peter a huge responsibility: to feed people spiritually through the true teachings of Christ after Jesus left. Although Peter was hurt because he was likely reminded of his abandonment of Jesus, it was the third time he responded, “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you,” that Jesus knew he loved him and was ready to accomplish the task.
Similarly, for my son to hit repeat is an indication for me to let him know that I will stay. Jesus may wonder the same about me like he did with Peter: ‘Will you love him?’ There are many responsibilities as a Mom, but it is my love for Zebedee that keeps me going; to stay and sit a little while longer.
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