I loved my son from the blessed moment I found out he was within my womb. Through each day of my pregnancy, his first breaths in my arms, those sacred first days of his life, and every day since, the joy of loving him is paralleled only by the love I have for his younger sister.
“We love God because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
God the Father has been so generous in revealing His love for me through my experience of loving my children. Though the sleepless nights and runny noses have been many, far greater is the sight of my son’s dimple as he smiles, or the sound of my daughter professing, “I wuv you, Momma. So, so much!”
“We love God because He first loved us.”
I recognize the love of my own parents, how they have shown me the love of God my whole life long. As an adult and mother I have a whole new appreciation for the sacrifices they have made, and for the care they continue to give me.
“We love God because He first loved us.”
Love is a gift to each one of us from Love Himself. Not only does He love us, but He teaches us how to love by giving us His Son. The ministry, life, and death of Jesus show us what it truly looks like to love. To love God and love one another is what God asks of us, and “His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 4:3).
Regardless of our vocation, each day we are given many chances—big and small—to love, whether that be someone in our family, a roommate, a neighbor, or an acquaintance on social media. So when a moment comes where choosing love feels like a burden, let us turn to the Lord and ask Him to restore our heart’s capacity to love.
For how blessed we are to have been chosen and loved by Him first.
Love is a gift to each one of us from Love Himself. // @inendlesssongClick to tweet
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Elise Howe is a wife, mother, vocal artist, and teacher. She is most joyful when creating with the inspiration of the Divine Artist. Elise hopes to live a life full of authentic beauty—especially through her song, her cut-flower garden, great books, delicious ice cream, and her yes to the Father. A born-and-raised Midwestern gal, she happily resides in Michigan with her husband, son, and two daughters. She was a contributing author to Set a Fire and Blessed Conversations: Misericordia.
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