The quiet of the morning washes over me as I look out of my window here in our home in beautiful Wilderness, Western Cape. Spring is making a great effort on the Garden Route, and our indigenous garden is filled with the delightful flowers of our famous fynbos biome. Unlike the showy proteas, these blossoms are generally small, and finely sculpted, the colors gem-like, designed by our Great Creator to attract the insects of this region but easily ignored by hurrying humans. Now, as I take the time to sit a while with these treasures, I am almost overwhelmed by their perfection.
These days, our home is quiet, occupied by only two, unless someone has come to visit. Although I would love to have my family around the corner, most of them live quite a few hours away and so I often ponder the elastic nature of love, and the sometimes-unexpected ways it is kept vibrant. A wonderful cup of coffee, offered by a beloved, becomes a toast to love and companionship. Silently mouthed words of love not only set the mood for the day but give courage for whatever tomorrow may bring. The delicious aroma of freshly baked bread hanging in the air says someone cares enough to make an effort rather than make a trip to the shop. Love is a continual activity of body, soul and spirit, and blessedly, we live in the 21st century – a video note on Whatsapp is a joy that makes me smile all day 😊
If human love can do this, how much more the love of a Father whose love is "wider, higher, deeper." And He takes the initiative, offering love when none is given, reminding us time and again that "nothing shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus." I breathe this truth in with the fresh ocean air drifting into my home and am at peace.
I love the J.B.Phillips version of 1 John 3v1,2: “Consider the incredible love that the Father has shown us in allowing us to be called “children of God”—and that is not just what we are called, but what we are. Our heredity on the Godward side is no mere figure of speech—which explains why the world will no more recognize us than it recognized Christ. Oh, dear children of mine (forgive the affection of an old man!), have you realized it? Here and now we are God’s children. We don’t know what we shall become in the future. We only know that, if reality were to break through, we should reflect his likeness, for we should see him as he really is!”
May you find joy in showing love today. And may your soul be restored by recognizing God’s love – yes! – but also the love of those you meet along the way.
