I read. A lot. And if you look next to my bed, you will usually see a book or two that I am currently reading. Not to mention the stack on my desk at work. And I read both fiction and non-fiction. Lately I have been reading some fiction books by Angela Hunt, and last night as I read in my bed before going to sleep, I finished another one of hers called, The Awakening. And I can’t remember the last time I was so moved, to the point of just sobbing, by a book. And it really had nothing to do with the book itself, and everything to do with how the story in the book became a vehicle through which my Father showed me just how much He loves me. And You.
I won’t give away the story, because I hope you will read the book yourself, but I do want to share with you a bit of what I was impacted by as I read.
Our Heavenly Father loves us. He has loved us since before we were born. He has offered us good gifts. He has written an entire book about His love for us (the Bible). He longs to have a relationship with us. And what He wants us to do is accept His love. Accept His gifts. Reach out for Him.
But sometimes, we accept the lies of this world instead. We believe that He is not a good God. We believe that He is distant and doesn’t want anything to do with us. We refuse to believe that He is trying to talk to us. We choose to live isolated from Him because we either don’t want to know Him or we are afraid to get to know Him, afraid to know His true nature.
And yet, He is trying to contact us. The gifts He sends are refused or unrealized because we aren’t listening or are unaware. But He continues to send them our way in anticipation of the day that we will see them and we will accept them. He is waiting for the day when we will come to Him and will hear Him say how much He loves us and how He has been waiting for the day that we will come home to Him.
Here is an excerpt from the book (don’t worry – it doesn’t give away any of the real story – it is a story from within the story):
And Lord John, who had traveled from one end of his territory to the other searching for the child of his heart, dismounted and drew the frightened girl into his arms. For a long while neither spoke, their hearts merging into one contented rhythm.
At last he lifted his head to look upon his daughter’s face. “I have yearned for you,” he said, smoothing her dark hair, “since the day I first learned you would be born. I have searched for you without ceasing. The blood of my dear messenger has been shed on your behalf, but I would have given the last of my treasures to win your heart.”
“Papa,” she whispered, the word musical on her tongue, “I am so glad to have come home.”
And the wind whistled outside the castle walls, while the demons of Aragon howled in protest, the father and his daughter crossed over the drawbridge and went inside the fortress to acquaint each other with the lives they had spent apart. Before the shades of night had fallen, each promised they would never be parted again until they were welcomed at the throne of the eternal Father and God of all those who seek heaven as their forever home.
And it is said that whenever a citizen of that realm wished to know what love looked like, all he need do was look to the lord of the castle, who embodied love through his decrees, his deeds, and even the intents of his heart.
For he had loved his child completely and had willingly sacrificed all he could to bring his daughter home.
I have been blessed to know this kind of love, both from my Heavenly Father, and my earthly one. And if you also have been blessed to know that kind of love, be thankful for that today. But if you have not, know that it is being offered to you. All you have to do is accept it. Fall into the arms of God and let Him love you today.