His Love

     I have been amazed at God's love for His children again and again. He obviously watches over us from on high and truly wants the best for us. He cares so much that He gives us things we in no way can ever deserve.
    This last Christmas the Sewing Circle offered to sew dresses for the teachers in preparation for the annual Christmas activities. I was delighted, for Christmas is one of the busiest, most stressful times in a teacher's life. However, when was I to find a spare hour to cut out dresses? I wasn't even sure I had any suitable fabric.
    As I pawed through the stash on my shelf, a bag caught my eye where I sometimes store sewing supplies. I took it from the shelf and opened it, supposing I would find patterns and scissors inside. I could hardly believe what I found! Inside, neatly folded, were the pieces to a dress I had cut out over the summer, ran out of time to sew, and promptly forgotten about once the school year started. It was even in Christmas-y colors! A feeling of overwhelming love swept over me. My heart whispered a thank you to God for this testimony of His love for His child.
    Another day filled with its own stresses is also held precious in my heart. The few short days of the week in no way seemed long enough to afford the time I needed to prepare for a business trip to a different state. Only a few days before my departure, I received a message from the gentleman making arrangements. Due to circumstances, would I be able to push the trip to a later date? My heart was filled with wonder and my eyes with tears as I recognized God's intervention on my behalf. The thankfulness that welled up in my heart was compounded because of the unworthiness I felt.
    You see, it was only the night before I had failed my Savior. I had completely disregarded His prompting and taken my own way in a certain matter. I had been struggling, seeking to draw nearer Him, begging for Him to accept me as a prodigal child, and now He had killed the fatted calf. I was overwhelmed with feasting on His love. 
    There are skeptics who say God does not work in their lives like that. Maybe He cares, but He certainly doesn't show it so clearly! Search for the moments. I am certain you will find them, those unexpected blessings you are tempted to call luck and the way things worked out that left you feeling relieved. Those are the places where God's hand is being displayed in your life, too.
    Sometimes you and I are afraid to accept the true scope of God's love. If I really believe He loves me so much that He will supply me with a dress already cut out or a change of travel dates, I must also believe He cares about the little things in my life I would like to hide from Him. I must believe that it is His grace that covers my failings and not my perfection. In many ways, I find that in accepting His love, there is also a calling to give even more of myself to Him.
    Sometimes we are afraid to see the depth of God's love because we are afraid of the depths to which His love will lead us. Do not fear! The blessing of letting Him in, of accepting His love and tearing down the walls you have built, will lead you into a place of freedom you may not even be aware exists. Don't hesitate. Open your heart. His arms are waiting.