Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Dear God,

For 20 minutes I donned my lobster hat and a scoundrel's black mustache as I waited at the bottom of the airport escalator for my daughter Jenni and granddaughter Stella.  I held up my homemade signs (written in Stella's favorite color pink) that read "Welcome Princess Stella and you too Jenni".  When I caught the first glimpse of Stella's sweet smile, my own smile stretched from ear to ear (pulling a little too tight on my sticky mustache).  When they stepped off, I grabbed hold of that little seven-year-old, red-headed girl, and gave her a big hug and kiss and then swung her around in a circle.  I was so happy to finally be with my family.

I know love because you showed me love.  Perhaps I found it on my own at times but the greatest love I have ever known is the love you shared with me.  You revealed how love stretches and grows, how it includes others, and circles round to include myself.  You made love tender and vulnerable teaching us how true love can both wound and bless.  When a heart is open, love can rush in and out touching us in deep ways.

As your love in me has grown my love for others has increased as well.  My own heart has expanded so that there is always room for more, particularly for you.  I am grateful, so grateful!

Merciful God,
make my love
grow and grow.
Teach me
the way
to love others
without reservation,
just as
you do.
Let it
spill over
so the world
can know
more and more love.

Always, Andrea