Behold What Manner of Love

“Dear Friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but If we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is made complete in us.”

1 John 4:11-12 (NIV)

As I began to read my last blog post to my family I could not finish. Once again, my heart became overwhelmed at the thought of my granddaughter being so far away and how much I already missed her. As the lump in my throat subsided and as I was able to speak again, I relayed the thought to my family. I could not have imagined how much love I would have for a grandchild. Then my daughters shared how they too could never have imagined how much love they would feel toward a niece. We spent the next moments crying and then laughing as we shared our favorite memories of time spent with our Rae of sunshine, Raegan Faith just 16 months old, and how she had changed our hearts forever. Our hearts are now fuller because of the deep love we have for her, because of the impact we had in her young life and the impact she had on ours.

2 Corinthians 9:15 says, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gifts.”  God has given us the gift of His love by the power of His Holy Spirit who lives in us. I am thanking God today for His amazing love – love that He placed in my heart, which is His gift to me so I can love others deeply, intentionally, and with a willing heart to lay down my life and serve unconditionally.

I also thank God for the lessons of love I have learned as a Mother and now as a Grandma. The moment I held my first baby girl I experienced His love rising in my heart for her. It was a love that would do anything to protect her, love her unconditionally, and call her my own no matter what. I realized that was exactly how God loved me! It was a glimpse straight into my Heavenly Father’s heart. Now with my Grandma’s heart, I am experiencing a heart filled with His love that loves deeply and with such patience and compassion. This is a new piece of His heart revealed to me as I am experiencing the precious gift of grandchildren.

Today, I am thanking my Jesus for His abundant and overwhelming love. I pray His love will be made complete in me as I love my family and others as He loves me. Dear friends, may you know His love as well, deeply, personally, and daily, and love others with the same love that has been so graciously extended to you.