True Love
Love
I’ve been reflecting deeply on love - Jesus’ love for me and what it can look like to truly love, even as he loves us. I jotted the thoughts and images down that came to me as I thought of my dear ones. I found it beautiful.
Love.
The deep joy of being with someone precious beyond words,
Laughter that is safe and full of shared mirth
Tears mingling and hugs given
The touch of togetherness
The teasing of kindness
Friends forever through thick and thin
Tender, parent and child; Passionate, wife and husband
The intimacy of touch, of eyes meeting, sentences finished by the other
The deepest care
Love
Your beloved dog, head on your lap, gently licking your hand; your cat nestling close,
playful, snuggling.
Friends running hand in hand on the sand
Your baby, so vulnerable, your love burning more fiercely than fire.
Dancing in the rain, shared confidences; a loving push to step beyond fear.
A glance of smiling understanding and solidarity
The first kiss of romance
The joy of discovering one another.
An unexpected gift of a cup of tea,
Watching a film, huddled together under a blanket.
Chocolate, broken and shared square by square
A hand on yours when there are no words.
The pain of wishing their pain away.
Love
Shaping my words, my actions, my choices and life goals
No frothy sentiment, but the heart throb of deep commitment
But who could love like Jesus loves me?
My Jesus, beaten and crucified. Dying so willingly.
How deep that love welled in his heart.
Creating me, knowing me, seeing me, feeling for me
His devastating action to save, heal and restore me.
Loved from the beginning of time.
O Jesus, I feel heart-ache,
How I long to take my loved one’s pain
And make things right.
As you Lord made things right for me.
And that is your gift of love flowing in me
Words are never enough, for like you, Lord,
I too must feel from my depths;
Not to run from love’s cost but to live it.
What greater calling than to love as you loved us, Lord.
Giving, pouring out, carrying, releasing, understanding, responding
Believing, joy giving, forgiving persevering, blotting out wrongs, always trusting,
constantly hoping.
Love
The greatest gift I’ve ever received
The greatest gift I can ever give away.
