Tuesday With Teri

Each week, four leading up to Christmas, we pause in remembrance of the birth of our Savior. In some households a candle will be lit in recognition of each of Advent themes. This week we take the time to consider LOVE.

It started as a casual perusal of FB posts. I had just picked up my phone to make a note, but found my thumbs instinctively hitting FB and scrolling along mindlessly…. until THAT post. THAT post was from my Daughter-In-Law, Cori.

There was the picture: a great shot of her holding Aubrey, my oldest granddaughter, both in the middle of laughing.

These were her words: “I can’t even count the number of times I’ve said ‘I know sharing is hard, but we have to do it’ recently to this spunky girl. I wasn’t a very good sharer growing up either. Now, as a stepmom, I’ve relearned the importance of sharing. Without it I wouldn’t have you, Aubs. Forever grateful your mom and dad share you with me.”

Suddenly I am not only teary eyed, I am full on quietly sobbing. It has struck my heart so deeply that my every remembrance of it creates a lump in my throat and threatens to bring tears out of nowhere. This is a very special LOVE.

Oh sweet Aubrey, in the years to come I will tell you a great story of your beginning….of a mommy who loved you even when she was unsure of the future, of a daddy who loved you before he held you and fought to find his way to you, and of a CiCi who loved you deeply and instantaneously.  I will tell you about how all your parents worked hard on your behalf to do what was best for you in all things. You, my granddaughter, are crazy loved by three parents. Their love is a courageous kind of love, some may even call it reckless. This is a love that walks, runs, chases down it’s recipient and once acquired, stands firm.

Cori’s words were especially impactful as I thought about this week’s theme of Love.  God’s love for us is reckless and courageous. Jesus, the son of God, the embodiment of a holy God, came to this earth to live a sinless life, lead the lost, and out of love, suffer and die on the cross. His death and resurrection allow us to believe in Him and ask forgiveness for our sins. God’s love for us provides salvation for us. God’s love seeks us out. It runs after us, chases us and once we receive His love and forgiveness, His love stands firm forevermore. This Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the provision for our sins, God’s courageous and reckless love of us all.

That image of Aubrey in the arms of her CiCi keeps running in my mind…this is how I want to be found today, and in the years to come…swept up in the arms of my God who sought me out and loves me recklessly.

If you have not already, stop and allow His love to wrap you in His arms. He is seeking you, providing forgiveness for you, loving you.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16