It Happened - Or Should I Say It Didn’t Happen!

Here it is - January 8th - two days after Epiphany - and I’ve already fallen down on my commitment to write a Notes of Hope every day. Oh, I’ve written them in my head and heart as I always do before setting them down here; however, they never made it here. I allowed life to get in the way. No one would blame me as I’m moving tomorrow and had a ton of stuff to get done - many obstacles to overcome. No one would blame me as Bob is in rehab after serious back surgery almost a month ago. He is 30 minutes away, and I visit him daily. No one would blame me as I have a part-time job to keep up with. No one would blame me as I had to see the oral surgeon again for an extremely painful procedure, and I also had to see my doctor for my annual Medicare exam.

No one could blame me except me. I’ve fallen short in my eyes.

Yet, as I was preparing my sermon for this Sunday early this morning, I realized that I have not fallen short in the eyes that matter - God’s eyes. God calls me God’s beloved and loves me no matter what. No matter what I’ve done or not done. God loves me. God is IN love with me.

And, you know what, God is in love with you no matter what. I like the phrase I heard somewhere which I share with my grandchildren pictured below at Thanksgiving: There is nothing you can ever do (or not do) that would make God, or me, love you less. Read that again. There is nothing you can ever do (or not do) that would make God, or me, love you less. Take it to heart. Sit and soak it in doing nothing else.

As I go back to packing and organizing and purging, I will repeat it over and over to myself. May you do the same this day - not the packing and organizing - but repeating that life-giving phrase.