In January, I was writing a bible study lesson for a monthly small group I was leading in Atlanta. Our group met once a month for 9 months. The clock was ticking, reminding me that the time to distribute the February lesson to the group was at hand. I knew the topic of study and discussion for February was to be “Unconditional Love,” but for some reason I was having considerable difficulty pulling the lesson together. CONSIDERABLE difficulty… I later realized that I was having such a challenge writing the lesson simply because I still couldn’t wrap my brain around God’s unconditional love for me.
Ok, so fast forward several months, and currently I am working on a full bible study curriculum on Love. One would think that I’d learned all about God’s love while writing the lesson in January and discussing it in February, so writing a full study on the topic should be a breeze, right? Did you say, “right”? You dear, dear, sweet thing…. *sigh* Thank you for your optimism, but unfortunately, the answer is wrong. Again I found myself in the middle of a battle. It was as if I had ringside seats at a wrestling match between my brain and the concept of God’s love, and I was getting creamed. LOL!
So I called up my oldest sis one day, and I asked a question. “How do you know God loves you?” I wanted practical details. I mean I know I woke up this morning. I realize that should be enough, and believe me I’m thankful, but I still had to confess to her that on some days even that feels insufficient. I know God sent His son to die for me. John 15:13 KJV says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” I KNOW God’s word is true. But may I be blatantly honest here? I don’t think about that sacrifice each and every day; do you? I know that I should; I try to, but I often fall short. I am completely thankful for the immense sacrifice that I know, without a doubt, I could never repay. And although I am perfectly happy yielding my life in obedience to Him, sometimes His loving sacrifice just doesn’t cross my mind. Sometimes the story of His sacrifice seems so far removed from my every day life, and I want to know how to see His love for me on a Monday when I wake up cranky, am having a bad hair day, and beloved pre-menstrual bloating has my stomach looking like I’m well with child.
My sis shared with me the simplest, most endearing “love story”, and it really got me to thinking. There was a children’s book that she adored as a little girl. She’s now a wife and mommy of 4, and she’s been looking for this book for a very long time, hoping to share it with her own children. Unfortunately, the details she recalled about the book were too few for her to be able to search for the book online, in the library or in bookstores. Yet she often dreamt of finding this book. One day, her oldest daughter (my teenage niece – LAWD HAVE MERCY!!! 🙂 ) was invited to a friend’s yard sale. She asked her mom if they could pass through, and they did. While perusing “one man’s junk,” my sister found her treasure. Her heavenly Father had strategically laid the book she’d been looking for for YEARS atop a basket of books just below where she was standing. Do you smell the sweet fragrance of God’s love? I know I did when I heard that story.
My sister called me each day for almost a week after I had that initial conversation with her. She called to share MORE love stories.
So I began searching my own life for everyday “love stories” from God, and I want you to do the same. As I continue to write this bible study on love, I am collecting “love stories”, and I want to hear from you. Send me your “love story”. There are all sorts of things that happen amidst our daily routines that are meant to be evidence of God’s thoughtfulness and love toward us. My goal is to receive 52 love stories, one for each week, and I need your help to reach that goal. Just post a comment with your name, city, and state to this blog. Then pass it on. Pass this post along to every girlfriend, aunt, sister, cousin and co-worker and challenge them to post a love story. I look forward to hearing from you!
P.S. Humorous stories are always welcome! 🙂