Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World

Goff considers the power of words through a personal childhood memory. In Little League, Goff—not a gifted player—surprisingly hits a home run. Although his team loses, Goff is fixated on his unexpected success. Later, he receives a card from his coach, declaring, “Wow... What a hit, Bob! You’re a real ball player. Love, Coach” (86). Goff treasures this card, now realizing that the coach’s affirming words shaped his self-perception more than any self-directed positive affirmations could. Goff compares this to the way he believes God views people, naming them “beloved” and hoping they believe in him. Goff concludes that the words we say to others can have lasting impact and actively shape their lives.

Goff compares faith to the childhood game where small items are traded for increasingly valuable ones. He recounts his son Richard's experience, who traded starting with a dime and ending with a pickup truck, which he then gave away. Goff quotes C. S. Lewis:

It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, folling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us […] We are far too easily pleased” (91).