Alex Drake, 2018

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. -John 3:16

Think about our Love as parents… we Love without end, we sacrifice, we teach lessons by letting our children struggle to find the solution. We endure heartache to help them grow, we feel joy with their elation. We want them to enjoy life, safely learn the ropes, and in the end feel that they have had a fulfilled & meaningful life (in all areas).

So, what exactly is Love? As I write this devotional, I have tried to find the time during this hectic time of year to pause and think and figure out what Love means to me. Even though its meaning can be very different for each of us as individuals, I suspect we share many of loves underlying themes.

For me, Love is Family. Love is going to sleep every night beside our loved ones and waking up each morning to find them still there.

Love is looking into the eyes of our spouses and knowing we still Love them just as much or more than the day we first met. 

Love is our children. Love is watching them play and sing in bubble baths. It’s that lump in your throat we all get when we watch them walk away into school with their backpacks on and we realize they are growing up way too fast.

Love is working hard each day so we can rush home to be with them for those final few minutes before bed.

Love is loving a child that cannot always outwardly show signs that they Love you back even though we all know they do just the same.

It is a pet who is always happy to see us when we walk through the door.

Love is always being there for each other to help no matter what in times of need or life’s difficult trials.

Love is allowing us to struggle to deepen our faith. It is believing in something that we cannot see or fully understand.

Love is leading by example, the way God would want us to.

As I think about all of these aspects of Love, I also fully realize that the only reason we have the privilege to experience these things is through God’s ultimate Love for each of us. God, too, feels this same type of Love for us, times infinity. He knows where we are coming from, before we do.

It’s hard to understand the Love He has for the billions of humans he calls His children. It would be easier for us to understand if He had only a few children like each of us, but Billions?!?! He showed us His Love for us with the absolute ultimate sacrifice…His Son. That Love for us is so great that He sent His only Son to Earth to teach us about Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love (but the greatest is Love). He wants us to also have a joyful life on earth filled with Love. He wants to instill the tools necessary for each of us to make our way back to Him. He wants us not to perish but to have eternal life. Therefore, through His everlasting Love for us, He has prepared a room for each of us in His home as part of His family. All we have to do is believe & accept Him. We simply Love Him and through our lives show all others the immense & unwavering Love that He has for us.

For me, that is the Gift of Love.

Amen.