Today, I was sitting in Main and Maple, a local coffee shop in Nicholasville doing some reading for class, and was blessed to be able to witness something that was filled with great sadness, and yet great joy. A mother brought in her little baby in order to give her up for adoption. Although I do not know the whole situation of what was happening, I was listening in to the conversation a little bit. It was with a great amount of sadness and tears, from both sides, that the mother gave her baby to the new parents, and said goodbye….possibly forever. After the mother left, the couple who now has the baby, stayed here for a little while. Despite the sadness and tears, to see the great amount of joy and happiness that came from these two embracing their new little girl into their arms was amazing. Despite the fact that this little girl was not their own, I could see the enormous amount of love they already had for her through the joy in their eyes, and their interaction with her. I know this little girl will grow up to be so blessed with the amount of love this couple already has for her.
As I was witnessing this event which was filled with great sadness and great joy, I was reminded of God’s great love for us. Because of the brokenness of this world, the brokenness in each of our lives, it can be hard to fully understand or even receive true love from others, which in turn can make it difficult to receive that love from God. The brokenness in our lives can bring around great sadness, which can separate us from those around us, and God. Yet, even in the sadness there is cause for great joy. In Ephesians 1:4b-5 it says, “In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself…” Today, through the love this couple showed towards their new little girl they held in their arms, God reminded me of something. He reminded me that I am His son, through adoption in Jesus Christ, and that His love and joy for me is so much greater than even their love towards their new little girl. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” I am reminded that God’s love and joy is so great that it can overcome any amount of brokenness and sadness that may be present, and because of that I also have a reason to rejoice and be glad. It is because of His love and joy for me that I am compelled to share that same love with my brothers and sisters in Christ and everyone else around me.
My prayer for each of you is that no matter what brokenness you are working through, no matter how much sadness it may bring, that you may see that there is reason to rejoice. God is right there holding you in His arms, saying “I love you son” or “I love you daughter.” God is holding you in His arms right now, exulting and shouting over you with joy, yet He is quiet in His great love for you. I pray that His great love will break down any barriers that you have put up to those around you, so that you may not only be able to fully receive the love that others are trying to give you, but also will be compelled to share that love with everyone around you.
I want to leave you with this verse,
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.” I John 3:1
In Christ with love,
Jordan
