Love like Christ

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

I didn’t expect to be taught something so deep in the middle of a simple Sabbath School afternoon—but that’s exactly what happened, and it came through a little girl named Merry.

We’ve been helping out with a small group of kids in Purok 18, Kaputian. Nothing grand—just singing songs, telling Bible stories, and spending time with them. It’s loud, chaotic, and full of life in the best way. But in the middle of all that, there’s Merry.

Merry can’t hear or speak. At first, I didn’t know how to connect with her. I wondered how we would communicate, how she would understand, or if she even enjoyed what we were doing.

But I quickly realized—she didn’t need words to connect at all.

She would come up to us with the biggest smile, the kind that instantly makes you smile back. When something made her happy, she would laugh—not with sound, but with her whole face. And when she hugs you, she doesn’t just give a quick hug and pull away. She holds on. It’s the kind of hug that makes you pause for a second and just feel it.

And somehow, in those quiet moments, I understood her more than I expected.

Being around Merry made me reflect on myself. I have so many ways to express joy, to communicate, to connect—and yet, I don’t always do it as genuinely as she does. Meanwhile, she lives in silence, but carries so much joy so freely.

It made me ask: what’s my excuse?

Merry doesn’t focus on what she doesn’t have. She simply shows up—happy, present, and full of love. And without saying a single word, she reminds everyone around her of what really matters.

I went there thinking we were the ones teaching the children. But honestly, Merry taught me more.

She showed me that love doesn’t need to be spoken to be understood. That joy isn’t dependent on circumstances. And that sometimes, the most powerful way to reach people isn’t through words, but through presence.

Her life brought to mind 1 Corinthians 13:13—that faith and hope are important, but love is the greatest. Because love finds a way to be felt, even in silence.

Merry may never stand in front of a crowd or preach a message, but her life already is one.

And it’s one I know I won’t forget anytime soon.

Name: Fretzie Mae Ampil | 64th Batch 1000MM

Hometown: Brgy. Culipapa, Hinoba-an Negros Occidental

Mission Field: Poblacion, Kaputian Island Garden City of Samal