The happiness of love
Brain dominos, who made the first move, and the greatest thing you'll ever learn.
She thought of the Shepherd’s words, “It is so happy to love,” and her pale sallow cheeks suddenly glowed pink and her eyes shone.1
A few times a year, I pick a book of the Bible to keep on the back burner. I don’t remember when I started the practice, but it’s proven helpful for the days when my mind is blank or I feel generally uninspired. I almost always find something applicable and/or deeply relevant to my current circumstances when I turn to my backup book. Presently I’m in Romans and today’s reading started a domino effect in my brain.
“But to Israel he says, ‘All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and defiant people’” (Romans 10:21 HCSB). This verse references the Old Testament: “I spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people who walk in the path that is not good, following their own thoughts” (Isaiah 65:2).
Immediately I thought of a passage I read last week: “Make Your ways known to me, LORD; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I wait for You all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5).
All day long.
Of course. Of course God makes the first move. He is worth waiting for all day long because He is already waiting with open arms for the ones He loves to turn to Him. He makes His ways known to us so we don’t follow our own unbridled thoughts. He teaches, guides, and leads us on the good and right paths for His name’s sake (Psalm 23:3).
Which took my brain to: “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). The God of the universe has been initiating from the beginning. Coming to live as one of us, experiencing life confined in a body — not only to secure our salvation, but also to sympathize with our weakness. And this means we can run to Him with confidence, trusting His arms are open all day long; He will not despise a broken and humbled heart (Psalm 51:17).
Knowing the love of Jesus compels us to love Him back (and love ourselves rightly), and frees us to say with confidence, “The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack” (Psalm 23:1).
For Christmas, Sean gave me a beautiful old copy of my favorite book. I want to share this fitting excerpt:
She paused and then added honestly and almost tremblingly, “I see the longing to be loved and admired growing in my heart, Shepherd, but I don’t think I see the kind of Love that You are talking about, at least, nothing like the love which I see in You.”
“Then will you let Me plant the seed of true Love there now?” asked the Shepherd…
Much-Afraid shrank back. “I am afraid,” she said. “I have been told that if you really love someone you give that loved one the power to hurt and pain you in a way nothing else can.”
“That is true,” agreed the Shepherd. “To love does mean to put your self into the power of the loved one and to become very vulnerable to pain, and you are very Much-Afraid of pain, are you not?”
She nodded miserably and then said shamefacedly, “Yes, very much afraid of it.”
“But it is so happy to love,” said the Shepherd quietly…
“If I let You plant the seed of Love in my heart will You give me the promise that I shall be loved in return? I couldn’t bear it otherwise.”
The smile He turned on her then was the gentlest and kindest she had ever seen, yet once again, and for the same indefinable reason as before, it cut her to the quick. “Yes,” He said, without hesitation, “I promise you, Much-Afraid, that when the plant of Love is ready to bloom in your heart and when you are ready to change your name, then you will be loved in return.” 2
When we are ready, He is waiting.
The Fortnightly
A bi-weekly offering of music, good food podcasts, interesting reading, and some moments that needed capturing.
TUNES
Writing music for this installment, because “the greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love, and to be loved in return.”
Cover image by Anna Jones
PODCAST
Being out of town for two weeks didn’t leave much time for cooking, so this week I’m sharing a podcast episode. My sister in NC sent this my way and it’s truly inspiring.
READING
This one’s for the ladies . . . I listened to Steven Bartlett’s interview with Dr. Mindy Pelz on his podcast, The Diary Of A CEO, which prompted me to check out her book, Fast Like a Girl: A Woman’s Guide to Using the Healing Power of Fasting to Burn Fat, Boost Energy, and Balance Hormones. I listen to the audiobook on Spotify and am roughly trying her plan. So far I’m experiencing more mental clarity and am feeling lighter. Woohoo. I hope to pick up a copy of Dr. Pelz’ Eat Like a Girl sometime in the near future.
MOMENTS
↖️: I had a plane change in DC on my way to Louisville from North Carolina. To my surprise, I got hit with a wave of homesickness for my place and people and teared up when I saw the Washington Monument. ⬆️: My brother (pictured with his wife on the far left) asked what food I’d been missing from Louisville and the answer was easy — the Citrus Heat roll from Dragon King’s Daughter! He worked for the owner (Toki pictured in the middle) 20 years ago and they’ve kept in touch. The sushi did not disappoint and I always love spending time with Josh and Juli. Toki told Josh he should help me open a DKD in Kansas! ↗️: We Go On is what took me to Louisville. Second time attending. Just as moving. If you have a chance to catch their tour, DO IT. ↙️: Another Louisville favorite of mine is the chocolate chip cookie from Please & Thank You. They sell them online, you know. One of these days I’m gonna cave and have them shipped to my doorstep. ⬇️: Two of Sean’s cousins came in town while I was visiting and we celebrated my KY sister-in-law’s birthday a little early. How cute is that cake? She’s just “a tini bit older.” ↘️: I couldn’t resist snapping a picture of my daughter Anna’s cozy space.
Be well, friends.
Hannah Hurnard, Hinds’ Feet on High Places.
Hinds’ Feet.
It is indeed happy to love, but genuine love will always bring pain. Thanks for writing.