LOVED
This word was placed on a key that was given to me.
I wore that key a handful of times at the beginning of the Race but then misplaced it and have not seen or thought about it since.
A few weeks ago, in Jordan, New Year’s day, my team and I were invited into a woman’s home for coffee and mansaf and goodbyes.
We had formed a relationship with this woman rapidly and our hearts were joined.
As I was preparing myself for the day, my mind floated to my key.
The Lord told me to give my key to her.
I said, “that’s great and beautiful and all, Lord, but I don’t know where my key is.”
The Lord then told me to look in a specific bag and there it was.
Ok, now I have no excuses.
I wore the key that day and as I was saying goodbye to our friend, I pulled the key off from around my neck and handed it to her. I simply said “the key says ‘loved’ and you are so loved by us and Jesus loves you too.”
She took the key and as I walked out I turned to see her place it around her neck.
The story:
Nora:
Beautiful, kind, gentle spirit.
We met Nora our first day in this city. A divine appointment, one might call it.
We were headed to the grocery store and she stepped out of our home. She was so sincere and welcoming. She invited us to coffee straight away. We declined with the promise of a reschedule.
She welcomed us with a hug into her home. She sat us down and served us coffee, sweets, tea and snacks. She shared with us her heart. She talked about losing her son recently in a tragic car accident. She spoke about his huge smile and infectious joy. With tears in her eyes she shared how much she loved her son and still does. She said in her broken English “he was a good man and I think that’s why God took him to heaven.”
I sat there with tears filling my eyes, turning into sobs as my heart ached for the hole in hers.
Nora:
Beautiful, kind, gentle spirit.
She begged us not to leave but to stay with her and share a meal. “We must go” we said hesitantly “but we will try so hard to see you again before we leave.”
This beauty. I can’t get it off my mind. This moment that we shared over coffee. A sacred space as Nora invited us into her heart.
Jesus. These people. You love them…so much.
We left as we prayed a prayer of blessing on her and her house.
Jesus. Be here. Send your presence into this place, into this home, into this woman.
Thank you Jesus that I see you in these moments. You are there.
So the key. The word LOVED was prayed over me that I might seek the Father’s heart in this and what he has to say and once I felt the Lord pulling me to give it away, do it!
“Loved” is a word that I have truly come to live out. I have walked fully in the Father’s love for me. He calls me loved. He calls me Chosen.
I have walked into amazing spaces of community and into spaces of truly opening my heart and life to others. I have walked in experiencing others love for me.
I have even walked in coming to love myself, more fully and completely.
I’m just so grateful.
And feel LOVED.
And I’m yearning to give that love away.
and Jesus, may Nora come to know just how fully she is loved by you.
And to you, yes you, may you fully come to know, experience, and walk in the fullness of the love the Father has for you. And then, I pray, you give your “loved key” away as you let the love of the Father overflow and pour out from you.
live as one who is LOVED.
