“Drop everything and listen, listen as he [God] speaks” Psalm 95.8
The card said it all. “Happy Anniversary” captioned a picture of two bears sitting together gazing up to a starry night sky. Inside, “after twenty years it must be love!”
Twenty years ago today Cherry and I said our vows. As we reminisced this morning, a short exchange keeps replaying itself.
“For most of the last twenty years I have told you that you never should have married me.”
“For most of the last twenty years I have told you that I am glad I am married to you and it is the best decision of my life.”
It does not matter who is on which side of our conversation. I have repeated the first statement to God so many times I cannot count that high! I do not believe it even now! God cannot possibly love me without conditions. God must have a hidden agenda. I am not worthy so there must be a catch. If God only knew the real me, how could he possibly accept me as I am?
God must be frustrated! God keeps repeating the same lines and we do not believe him. God loves me as I am. Yes, God knows that I am not worthy. Yes, God agrees that I do not deserve anything. Yes, God has full details on the many mistakes I make and says that this is not a relevant fact.
God knows every mistake, every false step and more. In response, he says just one thing. “You are the most important thing in the world to me. You are so important that I gave my Son for you. The gift is yours, free of charge. I do have an agenda and it is out for all to see. I want you to have the best in life! I want your life to be full of grace, love, and acceptance. I want you to know that you are important, not because of what you do, but because of what I did.”
Knowing this is life.
