30 Mar to Love with Abandon
We were bouncing and laughing together on their big, new trampoline, three of my grandsons and I, when just casually, little Gideon, at the age of three and a half years, says, “I LOVE you, Gramma”, and keeps on bouncing away…
Only a short while later, amidst meal conversations – “I LOVE you, Mommy”, states Gideon, and the eating simply continues.
After dinner, Gideon shows me one of his super cool educational games, and between excited three year old explanations of game rules, he spouts out, “I LOVE you, Gramma”, then continues on with his babble. (As an aside, I have to say that this very word came to mind, and in looking it up to verify my menopausal brain wasn’t playing tricks on me, I found this meaning: talk rapidly and continuously in an excited or incomprehensible way. Yep! This definitely describes Gideon at that moment in time!)
While enjoying ‘sweet’ fellowship, aka dessert, at the patio table outside, I hear Gideon interject, “I LOVE you, Grampa” and then see him shovel another spoon of ice cream into his little mouth.
This little guy knows what it is to love with abandon! In all his three and a half years of innocence, he is unwittingly loving like God…
With abandon = a far-reaching, unrestricted effort
Just imagine! When God created the heavens, the earth, separated the water into sky and sea, created plants and birds and fish and animals of all different kinds — He was thinking of YOU and saying, “I love you!”
When God created humankind, He was thinking of the relationship He would have WITH YOU, and saying, “I love you!”
When God sent His perfect and only Son here to suffer and die because of sin, BECAUSE OF YOU, He said, “I love you!”
Yes,
God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him would not be lost but have eternal life. John 3:16 Easy to Read Version
When God raised Jesus, His Son, from the grave to conquer death and give YOU promise of eternal life through Him, He was exclaiming, “I love you!”
When God, through Jesus, promised to come back to get you once He has completed that forever place FOR YOU to live with Him, He says, “I love you!”
Jesus said, “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in Me. There are many rooms in My Father’s house. I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. Then I will take you with Me, so that you can be where I am.” John 14:1-3 Easy to Read Version
When God gives you gifts – “I love you!”
Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from Him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same.” James 1:17 Easy to Read Version
When God disciplines you – “I love you!”
My son, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be angry when He corrects you. The Lord corrects the one He loves, just as a father corrects a child he cares about.” Proverbs 3:11-12 Easy to Read Version
If this is not to love with abandon, I cannot imagine what could be?? How could I ever doubt? God has given His all, His everything, to show His love for me, and for YOU!
Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way!” Romans 8:35 the Message
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 New International Version
Be encouraged, my friend…YOU are loved with abandon!
I hope you enjoy this song that I found (and recorded myself singing), written by James A. Reese, in 1972. The words are so very beautiful! (I only sang the first three verses – I believe the last verse is for YOU. Love Him back with abandon!)
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