I found love in a hopeless place
I found love in the darkest place
I found love in the highest place
I found love in the lowest place
or….
maybe I should say love found me
(Don’t worry, this isn’t my attempt at a cheesy song – but thanks Rhianna for one of the lines!)
What is love? That is an age old question, but I think I figured out the answer…
You see this year (and before) I have been searching for love. I looked for it from my family, my friends, relationships with guys – but nothing has come close to making my heart feel loved.
I looked for love through affirmations in my degree, my jobs and leaving for the World Race.
Still, I let love elude me…
I found love on the mountaintops of Nepal where a young man poured out his heart to Jesus to save the people of the valley from false gods.
I found love when young Indian girls placed flowers in my hair.
I found love through learning Khmer from teenagers.
I found love from go-go dancing with JOY from the Lord while her husband was essentially in hospice.
I found love in a small Roma boy stopping my on my way home to give me a kiss on the cheek.
This may all sound awesome, and it is! But it is just love – not LOVE. Love is light in a child’s eyes, a smile from a stranger, an ear to listen BUT
LOVE is and has been right in front of you and me for many years:
LOVE came to this earth in human form.
LOVE grew up in a ‘normal’ family.
LOVE was beaten and died on the cross for you and me.
I have been searching in all the wrong places for so long, and maybe you have too. What I thought was love- was only a glimmer of what is really available and accessible to us all. Jesus showed up and brought LOVE to my life. I truly opened my eyes to what He has for me and it is AWESOME!
This year, I left west Texas to love others- I thought I knew how! A helping hand and a listening ear – even a shoulder to cry on go a long way no matter where you are in the world. But, if you can share with someone God’s love, if you can show them 1/100th of what that looks like; and let them know there is SO much more love out there for them – you have also found LOVE.
With this LOVE I have finally found (even though it has been in front of me forever), I can truly say I love you! Yes, you reading this! I love you despite the past you have, the burdens you carry, the worries you have. I LOVE you because He first loved us. I LOVE you because God has given me the power to LOVE.
With all the Hallmark-y goodness (and chocolate) February 14th brings, know that there is not an earthly love that comes even close to the LOVE God has for you (and me.)
You are LOVE(d).
