Learning to Love

This past weekend we went to the North Carolina mountains with our son, daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters.  It was labelled a ski trip, but the fact is that one of the girls learned to snowboard, some of us went tubing, and others relaxed at the spa and in the hot tub. There wasn’t a chance in the world that I was getting on snow skis.  Just wouldn’t be prudent.

            Our family spent fourteen years in the upper Midwest where I served as pastor of churches in Indiana and Michigan.  At one point after moving back south I made the statement that if I never saw another snowflake I would be satisfied. And I will say this. I do not want to live where it snows again.  When it gets below 50 degrees my first instinct is to go inside and turn on the gas logs.

            But I looked forward to this trip, and I am grateful I that was able to go.  The most important part of the trip was spending time with family.  Tina and I raised two boys, and now we have three granddaughters. Talk about having to learn life over again. Everything I knew as a father has had to adjust to girls. But there can be no escaping this fact. I love those three girls with my whole heart.  I would do anything I could to protect them.  They mean the world to me.

            The Bible is pretty clear on this issue. The only reason I even understand what it means to love is that God loved me first.  Jesus made it very clear that God loves His children far more completely that we love ours. His is a perfect love. He gave His unique Son, Jesus, so that we might know Him in a personal way. 

            I’m so glad that gave me my family.  I learn much about Him and His ways as I interact with all of them.  He truly is good to us. I pray that you will know Him and love Him, too.