It is what I felt as a small child for my raggedy old brown teddy bear as my imagination gave her life and we played and played and I confided in her all my tiny lil secrets.
It is what I felt for my neighbor and very best friend in the whole wide world back when we were climbing trees and catching bugs until the sun went down on each of our perfect days.
I truly do know what “love” is…
It is what I felt for my grandmother when she would smile and fill the air of her echoey old house with the sounds of her warm familiar voice singing beautiful old hymns and the smell of homemade buttermilk biscuits.
It is what I felt for my very first crush when I knew it all and was a grown-up of fourteen years and my stomach would fill with butterflies and my heart would skip a beat at the sound of his name.
I’m definitely aware of what “love” is…
It is what I have always felt for writing, which is the safe and comfy little nook that I can tuck into and truly be myself.
It’s what I felt for my two brothers when we would joke and laugh until our bellies hurt and have all night movie marathons when the heavy weight of our eyelids couldn’t force us to drift off and end our fun.
It is what I felt for the sweet freedom gained from the first car that I bought with my very own hard earned money that I thought would take me to the ends of the earth and back again.
Yes… I know “love”…
It is what I felt when I watched helplessly from across the room as my poor lil mama cried with her aching feet after her shift ended at her second job.
It’s what I felt for my fluffy and precious Pomeranian sister who grew up with me, but aged much faster and left me far too soon.
I absolutely know what “love” is…
It is what I felt for my husband when he held my trembling hand and confidently promised God in front of all of our friends and family that he would take care of me, always.
It’s what I felt earning the ability to work with children and soaking up their sweet giggles and angelic little hugs one by one.
It is what I felt each time God blessed me and I was able to gaze tearily for the first time into the innocent eyes of my beautiful daughters.
I’m sure I know what “love” is…
It is what I feel when I gaze across a fresh cut pasture where four giggling little girls are running free as the golden buttery sunset illuminates my hand inside my husband’s.
It is what I feel when my babies cry, and their pain stings my heart.
It is what I felt when I watched my sweet little mama fight the sickness inside of her with all her might and I secretly wished I could take it from her and fight it myself.
Yes…
Ive always known “love”….
At Least,
I thought I did…
But I was empty…
I was lonely…
I was scared and confused…
I was lost..
Then in a moment of utter darkness,
my heart shattered…
And I called for Father to help me…
To forgive me…
To save me..
And He did.
Then in that moment…
For the first time ever…
I felt true LOVE.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 2:4-6
So as Valentine’s Day approaches, I ask you this dear friends,
Do you know what true “love” is?
