Moist blue eyes glistening like the warm waters of the Caribbean locked onto my gaze as little man settled his chin into my chest. Normally not so affectionate, Arrow, our 1 year old, was all daddy hugs this morning as his cold tempered his natural wide-open demeanor. His movements were slower and mood subdued as he and daddy sat by the fire. The greater light coming through the window softly touched his pearly skin while the lesser glimmer cast by the fire accented his blonde brows. A strong and deep emotion swelled in my core as his little lungs pushed his tiny breast up and down on daddy, baby frame molded to my chest.
My Bible was open to Psalm 145, the scripture I was meditating on, before Mommy laid him on me. As I drank in the moment, a thought struck my mind in the form of a question. What has Arrow done to earn my love? The question had nothing to do with the presence of love, but instead was rooted in how it came to be. What is he doing to sustain it?
He is too young to take out the trash. He doesn't talk, much less read, write, or get straight A's. The more I thought about what he "does," the less it made sense that love would result. Poop, cry, and pull all the Tupperware onto the kitchen floor everyday, without fail. Yet here I was, consumed with a strong unearned love, a Father's love for his son.
I paused and thought about all the things I am tempted to do to try and earn my Heavenly Father's love, to sustain His affection for me, to somehow influence Him not to turn off the spiket of His love for me. I glanced back down at Psalm 145:8 and thought of the unfaltering perfect love of God for His children. As I meditated on His love my mind ran to the cross, where God's love for us was lifted up in Christ. A Father's love making the ultimate sacrifice, that we may experience pure unearned love.
"The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love." Psalm 145:8
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
- Micah McElveen