Thanksgiving

I wanted to write something for Thanksgiving. I thought of the usual list - food, clothes, family, etc. Yes, I was thankful for those things, but I wanted something more original.

Last night one word stuck in my mind - LOVE! "Is that enough? I wondered. Is that all I'm thankful for?" In thinking about it some more, I realized that love pretty well covers everything. It is the core of my existence. I couldn't live very long without love.

So...I will write about love. I don't claim to know much about it but the longer I live the more I understand what love really is about.

It shows up in surprising ways and unexpected places. It is seen in a smile, a friend taking me out to lunch, God providing money for a trip, someone buying hot chocolate because they know I like it, a friend stopping in - just to give me a hug, Dad wishing me a safe drive home and waving goodbye from the porch or teardrops in the eyes of a child who is sad to see me leave.

True love is unconditional. It forgives - even when I mess up and let people down. I'm afraid. I want to run and hide. I think there's no way they could love me any more.

That's how it often is with God. I think He must be furious with me and I shrink back in terror. I'm scared to even show my face. I feel so ashamed and disappointed in myself. I forget that His heart towards me is good. I forget that love forgives. At last I dare to lift my eyes and gaze into His face. I'm amazed at what I see - LOVE! Only love! I fall on my face and worship as tears stream down my cheeks. How He could love someone like me I'll never understand...

Thank you, Father, for your love!

May you be blessed with love today!