Posted on by Charly

You Are Loved!

I recall being pregnant with my second child and wondering how I could ever love another child as much as I loved my first. I didn’t think I had any space left to fit another child in my heart. It was already so full. Then she was born and suddenly my heart swelled. I had just as much love for this little one as I did for my first.

This blissful feeling is so overwhelming when a new baby is placed in your arms. It’s not difficult to imagine loving this little human and protecting it from harm. You can easily imagine putting your life at risk to keep this precious new life safe. This love and safety that is automatic towards this new little human is the closest feeling I can come up with to describe Gods’ love for each of us. Of course He doesn’t question if He has enough love for more humans, He tells us to go forth and multiply. He knows He has more than enough love for all of us. It is us, humans, who don’t always have enough room for Him.

When I think of someone who loves me I immediately picture my own mom and dad. It truly didn’t matter what I did they always loved me. I pray everyone has at least one person that comes to mind when they think about who loves them. There is something that is strengthened inside of us when we know we are loved unconditionally. This kind of love gives us courage and a feeling of security.

Sadly there are many people who don’t feel loved. They don’t feel that there is someone that will love them no matter what. We live in a dysfunctional world where love is twisted, confused, and manipulated. Even if no human person comes to mind, or if you question weather those who are supposed to love you truly do there is always God. He never takes His love away. No matter what you have done or are going through He always loves you!

He loves you in exactly the way you need. A way that we can’t even understand completely because it is so unchanging. He doesn’t love you only when you do good. He loves you always and because of this He desires your happiness. He gives us rules to bring us happiness. He knows what is best because He knows each of us so completely. He doesn’t want you to be alone, to be scared, or to feel unloved. He wants to walk with you on this journey and at the end of this existence He wants you to be with Him for eternity.

He loves each one of us so much that He has a plan for good for each one of us. Even if we choose to stray from His plan we can always choose to come back to it. He is so good that He will continuously help us find our way back to Him. He is the ultimate guide to happiness because of His true love for each of us.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” John 3:16 NAB

Photo: pixabay.com

Posted on by Charly

Loneliness

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In spite of my unworthiness He; the King of the Universe and Creator of the World chooses me. He allows me to receive His very body and blood and to have a meaningful relationship with Him. This alone should keep me from spells of loneliness. To know that I have the Almighty Father as a guide, a friend, and a savior reminds me that I am never truly alone. Yet sometimes, especially this time of year when the days are short, the air is cold, and life seems frozen in grey tones my feelings can overshadow reason and a sad lonely cloud envelopes me.

I am at the cemetery where my mom is buried staring at a tree. It stands bare and alone on the snowy winter landscape. This tree has all it needs; soil, water, and sunshine yet it looks lonely to me. By design that tree has no feelings. It doesn’t feel left out even though just 100 yards away there is a whole forest of trees that are together. If I were in its spot alone and exposed I would be sad and lonely. It took me a while of staring before I realized that Jesus has felt this too. It seems there is nothing He didn’t feel when He took on human form.  He felt so many terrible feelings during the crucifixion.  I believe loneliness was included, afterall He asked God “Why have you abandoned me?”

I learned long ago in my elementary science class that all animals need to survive is food, water, and shelter. Maybe that is all other species need but as humans we also need meaningful relationships. We have a painful desire deep in their heart to have others around us who truly care for us. That tree may survive and even thrive in its’ lonely spot. The woodland animals nearby can serve their purpose by taking the food, water, and shelter provided to them. Us humans though, we will merely survive with only food, water, and shelter.

Relationships with people can partially fill that loneliness inside of us.  God can fill it completely.  Even though we are not worthy He chooses us, He wants to be with each one of us to care for our needs and bring us into eternity with Him. He provides the people He wants in our lives we just have to notice, take time to see them, and welcome them into our lives. Ironic or maybe so obvious that I don’t even think about it but when the sun shines and it’s a bright beautiful day I don’t feel lonely. Maybe that’s a reminder that like the sun the Son wipes away my loneliness.