By Gina Caswell Kelly
I am going to have to admit something. I have become a softy. I have noticed that I am much more easily moved to tears than I once was. Although, as I think about it, I have never sat through a Middle School Pep Rally without crying. When Kristy was a cheerleader, I thought, “Well, it is her first pep rally.” Then it continued for two years. Then it was, “Well, it is because it is Kyle’s first football game.” Then it continued for two years. There is just something about the excitement on the faces of those kiddos that just fills me so that I can’t help but leak tears out of my eyes.
It has continued to be that way at all football, basketball, baseball, etc. games. I am the one hiding behind the camera trying to hide my tears. I just love them so much and it just thrills my heart when they do well, and it breaks my heart when things do not go as planned. I was walking down the hall at high school recently to take choir pictures before they took off to contest. They were practicing, and as I was getting nearer, I could hear them. By the time I got to the room, I had to keep turning my face to the wall so they would not see my tears. Especially with my own grandson in the bunch! I just love them and want the best for them so desperately.
I have just come to accept that there will be tears. I have told people often that I think it is a huge blessing to love someone so much that it just runs right out of your eyes. God gave us the capacity to love deeply and to love in so many different ways. I love these kiddos so very much. But, I also love Mexican food. I love my car. I love the smell of fresh plowed ground. I love Gaylene’s cookies. I love the beautiful sunrises and sunsets we have. What a gift God gave us when He gave us love. In English, we only have the one word for love. So I can love my kids and I can love a greasy hamburger. Certainly not the same, but the word is! In Greek, there are several words for love that each mean a different type of love. I am not going to give you a lesson in Greek today! But the greatest love is that of the Father for His kids.
The verse that almost everyone knows by heart, says just that. John 3:16, “For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.” You know that verse. But do you know the love behind it?
Imagine giving up your child for a sinful and dirty world. You wouldn’t! You wouldn’t even give your child up for a clean and perfect world. Don’t kid yourself into thinking it was not the same for God. Jesus was very much His Son and very much a sacrifice. It was very painful for the Father. Even though Jesus and God are One, Jesus was a man sacrificed for you. Now that is love.
If you have not accepted this free gift of love from God, do it now. Accept Jesus into your heart. Ask Him to forgive your sins. Place your trust in Him.
God’s love. The love that makes an eternal difference!
