Love

I have loved thee with an everlasting love.

Jeremiah 31:3

“I have loved thee with an everlasting love” brings to mind such a beautiful love between a husband and a wife. A pure love, undefiled, selfless, generous, kind, thoughtful, and caring. A love that says “til death do us part.” A love that speaks no angry words and knows and speaks sweet words of love and encouragement. A love that gives to its beloved and says, “Take. This is mine and I give it to you.” A love that longs to please and is satisfied in that giving.

If you know God’s love, you know this pure, holy, undefiled, selfless, kind, thoughtful, bountiful, caring, and sacrificial love. His love is so pure that I can never repay it. His love is so kind that my generosity will never merit against it. His love is pure, holy, and undefiled and my love will never match it. His love is bountiful, caring, and selfless and my love will never compare to such selflessness and kindness. Yet, He loves me “with an everlasting love.” His love endures. His love died for me, endured death, and lives forever. His love longs for my love.

His love rises early in the morning and waits for me to awake. His love waits patiently for me to speak and acknowledge His presence. His love longs to talk about the activity of my day. His love is selfless in His providing for my basic needs. His love smiles as I leave and start a new day, but wonders when I will spend time with Him. His love hovers over me and clings to me like the cloths I wear, but I never noticed His enduring presence. His love looks on as I struggle through difficult people and problems. His love reaches out to hold my hand and longs to whisper words of wisdom and advice in my ear, but I don’t see or hear Him. His love patiently waits for me.

His love longs to please in the selfless giving of time. As my calendar is freed with canceled appointments He longs to talk with me over lunch, but I never noticed His presence in the car. Instead the news of the day, the phone has rung, or the songs of this world enticed my mind and consumed my newly found free time. Yet undaunted He waits. His love gives through the selfless acts of kindness of others once again asking patiently for my attention and I didn’t see Him.

His love protects me as I travel home, yet as I missed the speeding car that ran a red light I never noticed His presence. Once home I drop my bag and purse and plop my tired body in a chair and turn on the television. His love continues to call to me, but I don’t hear Him. His love whispers words of love and kindness, they go unnoticed. His love waits for me as I finish the day, but I walk past and fall into bed.

“His love is everlasting.” When will I notice? When will I see all that He has and is and will continue doing for me? When will my cold heart burn with the fire of His love? When will I know His very presence moment by moment, morning by morning, and day after day? When will this selfish heart break open and spill out its love for the One who loved me first? When will this heart give its love to the Giver and Provider of all love? When will I?

O Precious Father, may Your love never grow cold within me. May I always know Your intimate presence. May I always long to spend time with You. May the deepest yearnings of my heart surface to the top and cry, “Abba Father. You who loved me first fill my every thought with Your enduring love.” May I know from whence I came. May I long never to be the same. May my thoughts and selfishness be tamed by Your pure and holy love. O Father, may I share Your love in return with equaled devotion and cry out that I am unworthy of Your kindness and caring. Fill my longing with You. Fill my yearning with You. Fill my desire for love with You. Fill my entire being with You and may every sense of my being know Your everlasting presence and enduring love.

Petals of Love

The smallest flower, so feeble and hidden among the greater flowers of the garden, was often overlooked by the passerby. Daily it would gleam the nourishing rain from off the other flowers. It would stretch to reach the warmth of the sun from between the greater giants of the field never once knowing the loving protection the giant’s presence provided.

Slowly and reservedly this little flower grew. Its color and beauty too dull to be noticed among the other bright vibrant flowers, but it was there. Ever growing, ever stretching, and ever reaching. Reaching for a place in the garden where it solely received a clear path of rain and sun. It’s smallness ever present in its outward appearance. As small and unlovely as the flower seemed this never deterred the flowers desire to receive the fullness of the unobstructive radiance of the sun, the clear freshness of a summer rain ,or the early morning dew.

The life long struggle of this flower produced an inner strength and beauty. Though never picked for display by the gardener it served as a tower of strength and encouragement for the other newly found buds. The buds who struggled in the darkest of places, those left in the shadow of others, and those who seemed unlovely.

The older flower would whisper words of encouragement and strength. It would capture the harsh beating rain and shelter the newer buds from its onslaught. It would gingerly drip the freshness of the rain on them so as not to overwhelm their weaken structure. The older flower would cover them from the harsh rays of the sun, yet allow the blessed beams of light to penetrate and rest upon the strongest parts of their limbs. The older flower would shield the younger bud from the strong and mighty winds; protecting it.

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness. (Jeremiah 31.3) Thank you Lord for allowing me the privilege of growing in Your garden, of learning to look for and desire the fullness of Your love. Lord, may I always be what you would have me to be; one full of love and tenderness. One full of strength and inner beauty. One who knows the mighty gifts You have granted. May I always be willing to share your love with those around me. May Your tender mercies forever fertilize the life in which I live that I may grow and be worthy for use by You and for You. You are my rock and my fortress; my God in whom I trust.