“The Light of God’s love shined within us when he sent his matchless Son into the world so that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9 TPT
“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9 NIV
It was the perfect plan. I had thought about it for days. I had imagined the moment in my mind and I knew there was nothing that could possibly go wrong. The note was written with my sharpened No. 2 pencil with a very simple yet powerful message. For good measure I had it edited by a writing expert, in this case, my kindergarten teacher. You see, I was a girl in love and on the day I would share this news with the man of my dreams – I needed everything to be perfect.
I was 5.
and the boy – his name was Scott.
I remember this day like it was yesterday. I remember what I was wearing. I remember the smell of my classroom. I remember when my teacher announced that it was time for Show and Tell and the class moved quickly to a circle formation on the carpeted spot of floor. I remember clutching the small note in my hand with the words “I LOVE YOU”, as I folded my legs into the designated criss cross applesauce formation. I remember breathing deep, leaning to my left when I whispered these words to the student next to me…
“Pass this to Scott.”
It was my first time ever illegally passing a note in class. It was a bold move for my little rule follower self but as I mentioned already – I was a girl in Love.
And love –
it can motivate one to do some crazy things.
Up until this year the only attention I gave to the 12 days of Christmas , or CHRISTMASTIDE, was when I would hear the words to the popular Christmas tune by the same name.
On the first day of Christmas my TRUE LOVE gave to me….
It’s a repeating song that can get a bit redundant and not necessarily fun to listen to or sing. ( Unless its the Muppets version – that’s my favorite.) It logs the gifts that one in love gave to his beloved.
A Partridge in a pear true, calling birds, french hens, golden rings…..Don’t you wonder where the recipient kept all these many gifts? Was she convinced by the end of the 12 days that this person really was her TRUE LOVE? There is something so delightful about knowing and living in the peace that comes from being truly loved.
Funny thing about my memories of the revelation of my first love. It stops at “Pass this to Scott.” I have no idea how he responded. I actually of zero memory of him past that day. Some of my kindergarten classmates and I stayed together through our high school graduation, but not Scott. He vanished, or transferred to private school or moved out of the country – who knows. Despite where he landed he played an important role in my life – he introduced the idea of love – outside of the love I knew strictly between family. It felt intriguing, and fun and mysterious.
As I grew up I continued to learn about love. I learned about the love of loyal friends. I learned about love of summer camp crushes. I learned about the love of high school sweethearts. I learned about love through breakups and betrayals. I learned about love through committing my life to someone with no plan B. I learned about love through the three gifts called children. I learned about love through trials and pain. The learning about love – a beautiful process that continues to unfold as life marches on.
On this 2nd day of CHRISTMASTIDE I rejoice in LOVE. I rejoice that the ultimate gift given in love came as a baby. This baby offered his life and his death for us. This baby that grew to a man modeled love in a way the world had never seen – unconditional, sacrificial, for all people.
No.
Matter.
What.
The Father that was willing to part with his one and only for the salvation of the world set the bar for the way we are to love each other. It is the blueprint for the relationships we enjoy on earth. He just couldn’t wait any longer to pass the news of this glorious love to all who would want to hear. It was such a bold, courageous move…
But Love….
It can motivate one to do some pretty crazy things.
And for this – I rejoice.
justbeth:) 