This I Call to Mind

“… this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.” Lamentations 3:21,22

When I was first married, I made the mistake of not being as gracious as I could be in receiving gifts.

Poor Cam hated shopping and when he did, he didn’t shop at the stores I liked. So trying to get something for me - and feel like he got it “right” - was stressful.

We’ve had to work through that lovely little mind-maze over the years. The demonstration of our love and gratitude through gifts got a little bent.

Think about when you’ve tried to express your love and it fell flat:

• Maybe the friend didn’t appreciate the effort you went to to be there. To show up.

• Maybe your spouse took your availability for granted.

• Maybe you tried to do something really nice for your son or daughter and they whipped in, then whipped out with barely a “thank you.”

• Maybe you gave your all, and your parents picked out the one thing you didn’t think of: Not. Quite. Right.

• You weren’t feeling the love.

And so, with the people of God as recorded in the book of Lamentations, we “lament” the situation. But just for a moment. Don’t indulge, dear one.

Go for the hope!

Call to mind the great love of God. Call to mind the love that consumes every disappointment (Chocolate? Doesn’t he know I’m on a diet? Ugh. Carnations. Why would he bring me carnations? All the way to: Right. I wish I had a love in my life to bring me chocolate or flowers. )

We are not consumed by any of it. Why? Because we’re filled by the boundless, never failing love of the Great Lover.

Happy Valentine’s Day, dear friend.

~Nancy

I’m real because God is so real.

CALLING

Be grateful for any effort made to celebrate love. If there is no effort made by another toward you, then you, being filled with the love and hope of God, demonstrate love to someone today.