The Love of the Father

Carl and Bee are resting peacefully in front of the fire. Their smashed faces that mark French Bull dogs almost touch. Bee begins to wheeze due to the dry heat and Carl stirs. His head tilts to the side so that he can catch a glimpse of his companion, checking to see if she is okay. Could this be some hint of love?

A couple of nights ago, my three month old grandson spent the night. My husband retreated upstairs with our two year old grandson so that they could sleep peacefully. Evan and I camped out downstairs. I prepared a bottle and placed it in the refrigerator and made my way to the bedroom. As I began to get ready for bed, Evan began to whimper and I knew that the sleep that I desired would have to be delayed. The whimper turned into a loud cry that demanded my attention. For over an hour I cradled my grandson in my arms, knowing that he was in pain. Pain that I couldn’t do anything about. Finally, after exhaustion racked his precious body, he fell into a deep sleep. Could this be a hint of love?

Thirty-six years of marriage. Thirty-six years of waking up together. Thirty-six years of eating dinner at the same table. Thirty-six years of working through obstacles that could have become boulders. Thirty-six years of laughter and tears. Could this be a hint of love?

If these are just hints of love, what does pure love look like?

It looks like a son and a father living in perfect unity for eternity. It looks like a decision that was made for the son to leave with the possibility of never returning. It looks like a man choosing not to sin every day of his life. It looks like a son on his knees, alone, pleading with his father for another way. The thought of being separated for one minute so excruciating that sweat flowed like blood. It looks like a back torn to shreds by a whip with embedded lead balls and pieces of bone. It looks like hands and feet nailed to a cross. It looks like three days of hell.

Why would anyone make the decisions that Jesus made? There is only one answer. Love. Pure unadulterated love for you and for me.