Being Loved

Having just experienced a momentous week of Christmas with family and a wedding anniversary (65, no less), I am overwhelmed with love. What an honor it is to have such a loving family and dear friends to help us celebrate!

All the love was accentuated by the contrast of meeting a teenage young man who has probably never been loved that way. He finds his own ways of getting attention, but he struggles to gain acceptance. I’m glad that we could demonstrate what a loving family looks like, and I hope he sees how it is possible to have loving relationships. I’m sure his foster Dad will do his best to show him that all good things, including love, stem from God, who Himself is love.

I don’t think I’ve ever been more thankful for my family. I wish we could have all been together for this festive season, but at least we had good communication. Many families don’t, for which I am very sorry.

Wherever you are today, or with whomever, here are some good reminders to celebrate.

Romans 5:8 – But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 8:38-39 – For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

II Thessalonians 2:16-17 – May the Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father (who has loved us and given us unending encouragement and unfailing hope by his grace) inspire you with courage and confidence in every good thing you say or do (J. B. Phillips).

Isn’t God’s love something to celebrate? And not just at Christmas time. Happy celebrating!

“O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” from “A Song of Love”