“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16, NIV).
Most days, my husband comes home from work and asks me how my day went. As a new mom, the days with my baby girl can all start to feel super similar: feeding her, trying to rock her to sleep, playing, and reading books.
But I started to notice my responses to his question.
I’d tell him we had a good day if:
She was minimally fussy.
She napped well.
I was able to get work done or do stuff around the house.
(And it would be a great day if I got to do something for myself, like take a nap or work out.)
On the flip side, I’d tell him it was a bad day if:
She wouldn’t cooperate at nap time.
She didn’t feed well.
She cried a lot.
I wasn’t able to do anything outside of taking care of her.
I felt frustrated and overwhelmed.
I defined good and bad days by how much I accomplished on my agenda, not by how I got to serve my daughter. But today’s key verse interrupts that way of thinking: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16).
The greatest love of all is sacrificial, not selfish. Often I struggle to offer this kind of love to the people in my life. But when I can let go of my agenda for the sake of someone else, I experience more joy, peace, and love than if I finish everything on my to-do list for the day.
Can you lay down your plans for someone today? Maybe it's letting the laundry go undone so you can play longer with your kids. Or surprising your husband with his favorite dinner after a long day. Can you do the dishes your roommate left in the sink (again)? Or let someone take the good parking spot you were eyeing at the grocery store?
None of these ways of loving people should lead us to neglect our personal needs, but they make room for us to show the love of Christ and experience that love ourselves.
There are certainly hard days of being a mom. But I no longer want to define a good day based on what I can do for myself. A good (though sometimes hard) day is one where I get to lay down my life for my daughter, my husband, a friend, or a stranger. Just like Jesus.
God, I long to love like Jesus does. Reveal where I am trying to accomplish my plans at the expense of others. Show me who I can extend Your love to today. Lead and guide me in laying down my life for the people in my life. Thank You, Jesus, for loving me sacrificially. You are the perfect model for loving others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Some struggles are easy to recognize. Others leave us wondering, Why does it feel like everything is coming against me? When a woman is discouraged, distracted, or afraid, she needs more than another opinion about what might be happening. She needs the steady Truth of God’s Word. Your gift to Proverbs 31 Ministries today helps women recognize the spiritual battles they may be facing and discover how to stand firm in the promises of God and the victory Jesus has already secured. As our thanks, we’ll send you Between Heaven and Here, our new First 5 study designed to help you approach the unseen with biblical wisdom and confidence.
Connect daily with Meghan for biblical encouragement and practical ways to grow in your faith on Instagram @meghanryanasbury. And don’t miss opportunities to get free resources and more tools to help you build a life you love through her Substack.
John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (NIV).
Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (NIV).
What is one way you can serve someone in your life today? We'd love to hear from you in the comments!
© 2026 by Meghan Ryan Asbury. All rights reserved.
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