Bright and Shiny

Some days, the love is so amazing that it takes my breath away.

Today, God blessed me with glimpses of His love.

This morning my big kids sat with me and sipped their coffee or tea while chatting. That may seem like an ordinary thing, but it was special. They could have been checking email. They could have been reading or eating or chatting online or doing a myriad of other daily tasks that occupy their minds and time. But they chose to sit with ME. And I felt loved.

I got a long, lingering hug from my youngest. Nothing like that. Nothing at all.

I drove my new (used) van to church. We all sang songs together as we listened to Casting Crowns and talked about the lyrics and our similar experiences. Nothing like shared struggles.

I was blessed by the reading of the Word of God before the sermon. Rick put just the right emphasis, tone, inflection and seriousness into his reading to bring the passage to life. I was blessed.

I listened to an amazing sermon about our amazing God, who has eyes of fire and a mouth with a sword that convicts men of sin and exposes the darkness. This same God, this Jesus with white hair and shining face (signifying purity) told John not to fear. All men will wail when he returns, yet we are not to fear. He loves us. Nothing in all of the universe compares to that.

Then, something happened that made me all "bright and shiny". My husband prayed in response to the sermon. And what a prayer! He spoke about how, when he was first married to me, he would spend a lot of time just gazing at me, loving me. He spoke of his longing to do the same, some day, with Jesus, the lover of our souls. Oh, there was more, and all of it blessed me. But to know that in some small way our marriage -with all of its flaws and struggles and tears and heartaches and joys and sorrows- ... in some small way, it reflects the glory and love of God. My husband relates his love of me to the love he has for God. Wow! That is a sentiment, nay, a reality, that I will cherish all of the days of my life.

And now I am bright and shiny. Glowing with love and grace. Basking in thoughts that took my breath away.

I love you, Rick. I'm glad you love me, too.