Above All Else: Love
This letter to the editor, by Laurie Harmon, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on February 19, 2026.
The past week’s news cycle almost broke me. Between continued hatred and abuse of immigrants and the hateful way children were treated at a local school board meeting just for making themselves vulnerable and asking for compassion, I became angry, then despondent, then hopeless.
No wonder I feel defeated. Hate is powerful and all-consuming. But then I remembered that love is stronger.
I’m not perfect. In the past, I’ve judged instead of loved. I’ve caused pain. All of us have. Christians seem to fall into this category more than most, I propose. In fact, as a Christian, I’m ashamed it took me as long as it did to embrace this simple truth of the faith: above all else, love.
Christians, of course, believe the 10 Commandments are the “law,” but Christ clearly focuses on two, stating: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew 22:36-40 ESV).
Christian or not, it’s hard to argue with the concept that the law of love can transcend all else. What’s more, love is action. It’s what we do or don’t do.
Love is not using “the law” to justify hatred, bullying, abuse, violence. Love is not telling people they will go to hell if they don’t see the world the way you do.
Love is seeing another person’s humanity in yourself and acting accordingly. I’ve seen too much hate this week and I’m heartsick for our nation.
No matter who you are or what you’ve done in the past, please consider how your words and your behavior fit into this definition. The world would be a much better place for everyone if we could reboot and start from here: “’Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NIV).