written November 30, 2003
The other day I found myself within earshot of a friend’s personal telephone conversation with his wife. I could only hear one side of the conversation, but it was obviously a stressful day at the other end of the line, as I could hear the somewhat helpless concern in his voice as he tried to console and encourage her.
I could imagine that the day was fraught with the trials of raising a family, running a household, dealing with illness and frayed nerves. I don’t know whether my friend’s interjections of consolation and affirmation were well-received or not, but he was patient in his listening and was anxious in his desire to offer whatever he could, even if it meant going home to lend a hand.
As the conversation wound down and the call was ending, he called out to her, “I love you!” I don’t know if she even heard him, but there was a wistful urgency in his tone as he said it – as if to make sure she knew that through all the trials and struggles, the ups and downs in life, she could count on this to be a constant for her – that she was LOVED, whether angry or frustrated, whether beaten down or in despair. This love was being offered as an anchor in an otherwise chaotic world, and nothing would change this love.
It has been a long time since I have had an intimate adult relationship that would evoke those words, “I love you!” It has been almost a decade since my children have been of an age where they would joyfully bound into my lap, throw their arms around my neck and say “I love you!” I often know in practical ways the love my family and friends have for me, and have great gratitude for the blessing of such love around me, but on hearing this intimate exchange the other day, it brought twinges of longing to hear those special words spoken to me once again – to know that no matter whether I’m angry or frustrated, beaten down or in despair, that there was one who was such a constant in my life that they would speak those words, “I love you!” and so assure me in an intimate way of my true and constant value in this world.
As I thought about this, I considered my “conversations” with God – how often do I dump out all the frustrations and struggles I have in life into my prayers with Him. To be sure, He faithfully listens and guides me through these prayers, I am sure, in a way similar to my friend – with interjections of understanding and affirmation. I wonder how often, though, I “hang up” on such conversations with God without hearing His call to me at the end, “I love you!” Oh how wonderful it is to hear the God of Creation, the God of this vast universe of intricate beauty and wonder, the God who stepped down from the heavens to become fully human yet fully divine, call out to ME, and say “I love you!”
Yes, there is still occasionally an earthly longing to hear another whisper those words to me with passion and sincerity, but how vastly it pales in comparison to the intensity and eternal depth of the declaration of love from my Creator who calls out to me with those words every day of my life, if I will listen. In many earthly relationships there is often one partner who will constantly ask, “Do you love me?”, longing to hear those words “I love you!” over and over again. In such a relationship these words sometimes begin to tarnish in their value and sincerity, as they are spoken in concession rather than in true passion. But in my heavenly relationship, I need only open the Scriptures to see God’s word to me and hear those words with divine passion and power over and over again -
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)
And then the greatest assurance of all of His love for me:
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)
Oh, such words of love could never be greater! God ever cries out to me from the heavens – “I love you!” and I in return fall on my knees in unending love, gratitude and awe and cry heavenward, “I love you!”
