The Sweet, Sweet Love of Jesus

The best gifts don’t come in perfectly wrapped packages but in God-orchestrated moments. In these wondrous moments, we can see and feel God’s love for us in ways that permanently imprint our hearts. Those imprints serve as a healing balm for wounds, fillers of voids left by loss, and reminders that God is always at work in our lives. He knows what we need when we need it and is creative in how He gives us our customized gifts.

One of my favorite attributes of these purpose-filled gifts is that they are usually just between him and me. Even if others surround me, I am the only one who recognizes the big reveal, and I cannot hold back a smile, happy tears, or both. It’s God’s unique way of whispering the essence of Psalm 139:1-4 to me, “I see you. I hear you. I know your heart, and I love you.” In these precious, just-for-me moments, God reiterates how important I am to Him, and no matter what, He will never withhold His love or gifts from me.

While my God-gifts are many, I received one recent treasure I could not wait to share with you. It was unexpected, as usual, and I hadn’t even realized I needed it. I hadn’t been praying for it; it just happened. That’s how deep our Father’s love goes for us—He meets needs we don’t realize we have and gives us miracle moments just because He can.

My friend, I invite you to curl up in your favorite spot with a cozy blanket while I tell you a story of the sweet, sweet love of Jesus.

Unexpected Mission Field

When God opened a door this year for our youngest to attend a private Christian school, He also opened a door for me to walk onto an unexpected mission field. I had never considered it for myself, but second to being a wife and mom, this has been my favorite job opportunity.

Since taking my first step into the school as an employee, God has revealed Himself to me consistently and in extraordinary ways. Each week has provided new God winks, showing He knows my heart and needs. One such moment happened two weeks ago on Valentine’s Day.

A Sweet Gift

The classroom I help in a few days a week was bustling with anticipation over the day’s upcoming events. They included a Valentine’s treat exchange and singing telegrams throughout the morning. The students’ joy and excitement were contagious!

Full disclosure: I also felt a little excited about the day. Since my children have outgrown this season of life, I jumped at the opportunity to buy treats and added a little extra touch by taping a Bible verse to each one: “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19, ESV). Thus, the treats provided sweetness for their taste buds and their hearts.

And then God poured some sweetness into my heart! There I sat, in my usual seat, waiting for the students to settle in and the teacher to start the day, when my unexpected treasure from Jesus arrived. Over a few minutes, several students handed me a Valentine’s Day treat. They blessed me with chocolates, fruity treats, handwritten cards, and beautiful flowers. Of course, other staff also received these treats. Tokens of love and appreciation blessed many hearts that day. Those treats, which others expected and appeared to be just chocolates, were much more for me. For this gal, those gifts were God filling me up with some of His sweet, sweet love.

After I piled my stash of sugar, I snapped a quick picture and sent it to my husband with a message telling him how much I love when God fills voids! I explained how I had shed a few tears the day prior as I remembered how Mason was always so good about gifts, even on Valentine’s Day. He loved giving me something special to assure me of his love, and I missed that. So, because God loves me and can orchestrate such things, He gave me just what my heart missed via several students. Talk about tasting and seeing that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8).

Do you know that feeling when someone hugs you? That’s the feeling I get every time God surprises me. His surprises always squeeze my heart in a way that I know His hand is on it (Psalm 139:5). A sense of security and peace accompanies the heart squeeze that only can be God making himself known again, which is how I felt on Valentine’s Day.

How about you? How has God shown you the sweetness of His love? This space is a community, a place for me to share with you and for you to share your heart with others. I eagerly anticipate your comments about how God  unexpectedly poured His love into your life.