Sunday afternoon I found myself pulling weeds and grass out of the flower beds at my Great Aunt’s house in Salem. It was hot—about 91 degrees outside. My mom and I were preparing for my brother’s wedding, only one week away!
My mind wondered throughout different thoughts, but settled on one—Love. Considering we were preparing for a wedding, that seemed the most appropriate. I first thought about how our act of service was an act of love—not only for my brother and Becca’s wedding, but also for my Great Aunt. It is a burden to ask a couple in their 80’s to host a wedding. My aunt & uncle are not your typical 80 some-odd-year-olds, but as amazingly active and talented as they are, it wouldn’t even be right for our family to leave all the wedding preparations around the house up to the two of them!
So, here we were, loving Auntie Moe & Uncle Wayne by wedding their flower beds… I then realized we were also serving Adam & Becca by weeding for their wedding. They are both busy, working over full time at new jobs to save for their new life together. We chose to show our support by taking time to help them prepare. Thinking about them turned my thoughts to their love for each other. I am over joyed that my brother found the right girl to spend the rest of his life with! I am so excited to be a part of their life—and the celebration that joins their life together. Their love is a testament to how sudden and yet how deep love can be.
As I knelt in the grass, imprinting my knees with blade marks and feelin’ the love, I took a mental step back to look at the big picture. Digging in the dirt somehow always brings me back to my Creator, and the Author of Love himself. I can’t think about love without somehow coming back to Him, the embodiment of love. The song, “How Great the Father’s Love for Us…” drifted through my head. It is because of his ultimate sacrifice that we know what love, true love is! Our human attempts pale in comparison to his vast, fanatic love for us!
We only get glimpses of this love throughout our lives… the joy in a toddler’s giggle… the warmth of the sunshine on our skin when we spend time with friends… the shiver that a strong embrace sends down your spine… kind words from a friend. But anyone who’s ever been in love knows that true love requires a sacrifice. “How vast beyond all measure…” is the next line in the song. We can’t even measure how vast Christ’s sacrifice for love is for us! In fact, all we can do, all we are asked to do, is accept it. Rest in it, find peace in it.
In return, he provides opportunities for us to love each other, whether by weeding some flower beds, or creating life-long covenants with each other in front of family and friends… wow! How great his love really is!
No comments:
Post a Comment