1 John 4:8 "...God is love."
If we could bottle what we've learned over the past seven years with all three of our girls, it would be hard to label it. The FDA wouldn't approve our NyQuil-like commercials...sneezing, stuffy head, so you can rest...would be unconditional, full steam ahead, so you can be your best...is an unbelievable claim. This elixir that clears all that congestion in your head and heart, makes the coughs of life fade to a minor irritation, and causes people to stop and really think differently could only be labeled 'love.' Wal-Mart would stock it right beside the heart medication and anti-depressants. A little below the allergy medication since it certainly clears one's eyes, and I'm sure Tylenol and Advil are a bit upset to share their valuable pain reliever space with this interloper.
The ingredient label would include patience, kindness, humility, sprinkled with a liberal dose of contentment. And don’t worry it’s not like other ‘feel better quick’ fixes, there are no additives of anger, rudeness. It’s a product you can trust and hope in, protecting you and your family-and oh yeah, the magic ingredient is a preservative called grace. There is no self serving size-just apply liberally as needed and be sure to share. Unlike the television or QVC commercials you can’t work enough to get it (Eph. 2:8) and there is no magical $19.99 plus shipping fee-it’s actually, shockingly…free.
Faith, hope, and love (rabbit trail, I love that Point of Grace song!) are so important in our every day life-but the greatest of the three is love (Hebrews 13:13). Corinthians defines love on every level. What it is, what it isn't, and what it does.
I Corinthians 13: 4-7
"Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
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."
While most understand love in the noun form, it’s important to experience it in the verb tense. In the past month God has clearly demonstrated love, His all consuming unconditional love, in our life. We had the privilege of sharing time with the Fitzpatrick family in Chicago, as they honored Fiona’s life. We watched as they hugged and reassured family and friends, even in the midst of their own grief. They’re mommy and daddy hearts were already racing ahead, wondering how they could help Fiona’s big sisters cope and learn to express their feelings and concerns. A newspaper article reminded us of an event a few years ago affecting two families in our own church. A wife and mother gave of piece of herself to help a man dying and in need of a healthy organ. While they knew each other in passing, through a selfless act, they are now bound together in love and a shared desire to see the other succeed. What greater love is there than when one lays down his (or her) life for another?
This type of self less love is hard many times for us to grasp let alone give. Aaron and I talked about this in depth on our nine hour drive home from Chicago. Aaron mentioned the quote, “It is better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all.” Which really got us into a heart stretching, thought provoking conversation that spanned a few hours, and states. How can people really live without having loved. But let me say that we mean selfless, giving with no expectations, no holds barred, unconditional, accepting love. The type of love that Jesus showed by giving His own life in exchange for ours. Why do we have such a hard time learning and showing the truest form of love? Indiana brought us many ideas, but in Ohio we finally got a handle on it…or at least in our opinion!
We don’t love on this depth because it hurts…it hurts us. When you put your heart, and emotions, on the line and involve yourself – you stand the risk of rejection, hurt feelings, miscommunication, facing head on your own fears and insecurities.
But how can we really know what it’s like to live a life abundant in Him, without receiving ourselves and then giving His love to others?
When you think of Jesus’ time here on earth He was constantly loving others, no matter the cost to Himself. His love for Mary, Martha, and Lazarus led Him to weep openly when He heard of Lazarus’ death…but remember how that story ended? A doubter, denier, and deceiver were among those that He loved and taught daily. He gave His own life to redeem ours. (John 3:16)What kind of love is this?
We see God’s love daily. From friends who visit us during long intensive care stays with Rylee. The nurses who care not just for Rylee, but our entire family-bringing us a homemade dinner instead of mystery meat from the cafeteria, or sit down to listen and encourage. A doctor who came out in the middle of the night to help us when Kaymaen passed away. Through Rylee’s babysitters who take their own time to come out and give me a break, excited to get a grin…or gas!…out of her. Ryann hopping up into Rylee's bed each night to read her little sister a bedtime story. Strangers in Florida who have become part of our family and love us so much...A friend who remembers to call or send a card, ‘just because.’
To you, reading this, still checking in on us…
Ministering to others, showing God
is as simple as loving them…
right where they are, no matter the faults or problems,
with no expectations.
But-we have to get our ‘self’ out of the way first.
Please pray for our family as we continue to learn to put Him first in our life,
and daily dedicate ourselves to serving and praising Him.
‘God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience,
but shouts in our pains; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.’
- CS Lewis
