They Will Know Us by Our Love

Photo by Alivia Luthi on Unsplash

January 2026 by Melise Rider, https://www.wholeheartedhw.com/

A good friend once told me, “Conversions happen when people see how we handle

adversity.” That statement stayed with me. It immediately brought to mind a song many of us

know well: “They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they will know we

are Christians by our love.”

Over the past few months, the Lord has been working a strong and gentle message in my

heart, and I truly believe He placed this on me to share with you today.

It all began in a small, almost humorous moment. My husband said to me, “Don’t upset the apple

cart.” I had never heard him use that phrase before, and it stood out so strongly that I instantly

knew God was trying to get my attention. I laughed—not out of disrespect—but because it

was unexpected. Yet that phrase stayed with me. Boy, did it ever stand out.

I sent a message to friends from a spiritual group I meet with and asked them to pay attention

to what God might be saying through this. I did what the Holy Spirit teaches us to do—I asked.

I prayed, “Lord, I know You will show me. Please tell me what You want me to know.”

At that time, adversity was everywhere. I was dealing with ongoing pain, cars breaking

down one after another, and later, an adult son found himself in a sticky situation. Looking

back, I can see that the Lord was preparing me for adversity. I felt like I was standing in the

middle of a tornado.

One of my friends shared a powerful vision. She saw a wagon filled with fruit, being driven by

the Holy Spirit. Her words were simple: “Stay in the wagon. Stay grounded.” She also sensed

St. Michael behind us, guarding the way.

Immediately, I saw something else in my imagination. I saw the enemy firing arrows at that

wagon, like an old western movie. Apples were flying everywhere—each one labeled with

something important: children, finances, health, time, pain. My first instinct was to jump out

and frantically try to gather the apples. But doing that would have meant leaving the Holy

Spirit’s protection and acting in chaos.

The other option was trust—trusting that St. Michael had my back, that God was fighting for

me, and that I was safe to stay still. I realized how often our lack of peace comes from a lack

of trust. We think, “I need that,” or “Only I can fix this.”

Over the next few weeks, signs were everywhere—literally. Trucks, billboards, ads—“How

‘bout them apples!” God certainly has a sense of humor.

Then came another moment of clarity. I attended a college dance

performance. I love interpreting choreography, asking what message the artist is trying to

convey.

As the performance began, dancers appeared dressed in black, holding bright green apples.

Apples again. I knew God was speaking. As the music intensified with wind-like sounds,

apples rolled onto the stage. The dancers picked them up, kicked them, passed them, chased

them. Chaos grew. I thought about how we so often pick up not only our own adversity, but

other people’s as well.

Then the music softened. A single dancer came out with a broom. She quietly swept the

apples off the stage. To me, she represented St. Michael—calm, grounded, authoritative.

When the dancers returned, everything changed. The broom holder stacked the apples into a

perfect triangle—order, peace, and for me, the Trinity. The stage grew still. Everyone looked

upward—toward the universe, toward God.

Everyone’s eyes were on the calm girl with the broom. She said nothing. She simply acted

with trust and purpose. What did she have that the others didn’t? She knew the secret—to be

still and know that God is God.

When later adversity struck close to home, I felt a grace cover me. Yes, there was initial

anger, but underneath it was a deep knowing that God was present and in control. I

surrendered, not perfectly, but sincerely. I even had to forgive myself for chasing the wrong

apple—a costly mistake, but one that became part of the lesson.

As the world watches how we handle our adversity, may we remember who is truly leading us.

May we stay grounded in the wagon—rooted in the Church, the sacraments, and trust. Let St.

Michael and the Lord fight for us.

Jesus, I trust in You.

May we become like that quiet girl—focused, peaceful, and faithful. And when others see our

trust and peace, may they desire what we have: the love of God, alive in us, even in the midst

of adversity.