Ears To Hear # 23

DOES “LOVE” INTIMIDATE YOU?

  

         Does even the word “Love” intimidate some people?
         Many may think I take that word lightly when I sign my e-mails and letters with “Love.” I assure you, I don’t take it lightly. God is LOVE, and I’m not ashamed to sign my name with the highest form of respect I have for Him.
         Isn’t it amazing how mental pictures from our past are used by God to teach us lessons in the present?
         “Click Click”, and I see myself in bed with my husband some time early in our marriage. I wanted so much to say, “I love you”, but the words stuck in my throat. I couldn’t say the word, “love”…and neither could he.
         I don’t think even our parents had spoken that word to either of us. My parents may have. They were good people, but I can’t remember hearing them say they loved me.
         Children usually learn to say what their parents say. After all, the parents are the ones who teach them how to talk.
         This was good in a way because I became determined to teach my children to say, “I love you.”
         A baby is not intimidating. So, as I leaned over the crib of my first born, delighting in each little finger and toe, and the wonder that my God had created such a magnificent little fellow…and even allowed me to enjoy His creative nature, God was opening the doors of my heart and mouth to freely say, “I love you, little one. I love you.”
         It’s not the first time God used a baby to set people free to love. Remember the Baby in the manger.
         Another mental picture I see is my grandson, Sky. As God gave me the gift of baby sitting for him before he was even big enough to crawl, I began to teach him the first words I wanted him to say. “I love you.” As a drama teacher, I made sure to pronounce the words distinctly, moving my mouth in an exaggerated way so that he could mimic me. His little eyes watched my mouth closely and the day came when I saw him moving his small mouth trying hard to say what Granny was saying.
         As my first born opened the door for me to speak freely of my love, my second son was so easy to love and the word “love” multiplied.
         Another day came when I could even tell my husband that I loved him. Although it took practice because of my fear of rejection, it finally became a good habit for me.
         Yes, I longed to hear that word from him. But, if I were to count the times I heard it, they would be no more than the “crumbs under the table” like the story in God’s Word. (Matthew 15:27).
         However, like our Heavenly Father, I continued to tell him. Even to this day, I find it difficult not to sign my few letters to him with “Love”. When you love someone, how can you give them less than your best? I believe God sees things that way towards us, too.

SILENT LOVE

         Today as I responded to a letter from my husband, I didn’t sign it “Love,”. I only signed my name because that is the way he writes to me. Never beginning with “Dear” or signing with “Love.”
         Just now I heard the word in my spirit…”Silent Love” and wondered what God meant. In the days to come, I believe our Lord will show me more about what He means by “silent love”…but for today, I think it means that my husband does love me…but has not found the words because the word “love” still threatens and intimidates him. 

         One last memory picture I enjoy so much, is of my grandson Zane. His parents taught him to respond to anyone saying to him, “I love you”, with the words, “I love you, more.”
         Praise God for parents who can say the word “love”. If Zane doesn’t realize it today, some day he will be able to relate this to the love God has for him. When he says, “I love You, Lord”, he’ll hear God’s voice in his spirit say, “I love you more, Zane. More than you can ever know.”

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         It hurts our natural man when we tell someone we love them, expecting that what we do unto others will be done unto us…immediately, and it doesn’t happen. But sometimes a SILENT LOVE may be even more comforting when we know in our knower that someone loves us. And only God can give us that knowing. It comes from being able to hear Him for ourselves.
         Although God’s Word says the world will not love us…if all we see is the natural, we may miss the comfort that comes from recognizing a true SILENT LOVE. 

  

[As I prayed today, I asked, “Lord, what would You have me share at Your Table today? He said the same thing He always says to my heart. “Tell them I love them.” “And this morning, remind them that I am coming soon!”]