What's Not to Love?

It was picture perfect: Beautiful, grandiose evergreens. A serene lake, the midday sun glinting off its waters. A light warm breeze and near silence. The only thing that was out of place was the restless, discontent heart of the young woman taking all of this in. 

As she first found herself noting the creation around her, she only wanted one thing. She wanted someone to share it with, someone who could appreciate creation's beauty as much she could. Someone who could even appreciate her for who she is - quirks and all - without wanting her to be something else. These are the desires that made her heart feel like it was breaking.

Then the Voice of Truth spoke to her spirit. He said. "You are looking to be accepted, loved and cherished by the created beings around you. What you don't realize is that you are already accepted, loved and cherished by Me, the Creator of you. I'm not looking for you to be someone you're not. I created you with your idiosyncrasies, so why would I look to change those?"

Her heart swelled and tears filled her eyes as she realized that she was wanted by the One who determined that she would exist.

Then she had another realization: There were millions of young women who shared her little boat. They wanted to know they were loved and desired but what they didn't know was that there was Someone who wants them and loves them now.

So from that young woman with a broken heart to those whose hearts are breaking, too: You look at you and think, "I must be thinner, less boisterous and more athletic to be lovely." But God looks at you thinks, "What's not to love?"

We Remember

Hamburgers. Country music. Red, white and blue. Today we celebrate.

Do we think about what we're celebrating?

We're celebrating the lives of those who've died to defend their country. We're celebrating the freedom we have because they were willing to sacrifice everything.

We take it all for granted. 

I know that I've never been directly affected by the death of a soldier. And I know I'm not the only one. 

But I also know that there are more people who have been affected. Their lives have been changed because a husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, best friend, co-worker, church member never came home. These lives will never be the same. The wound may heal but there will always be a scar.

So I say to those who have lost someone or know someone who has: Your pain is important. Your pain is valid. You suffer the pain of loss on behalf of everyone else who hasn't. I don't envy you, I don't pity you, but I do thank you. I thank you for being strong even when you don't think you can make it another day. I thank you for the service and sacrifice of your loved one because I can't thank them myself. 

And I say to those who cannot imagine such pain: Stop. Think. Thank. Be grateful. Praise God for our freedom and pray for those whose lives now contain a gaping hole. 

Freedom isn't free. Anyone who has lost someone knows this.

Thank you to the men and women who have died so I can live in freedom.

And thank you to their families who endure the loss and who have persevered.

Your sacrifice is remembered.