First Leap

As a child I remember playing "Leap Frog". I recall a story of a young lady kissing a frog that turned into a prince. I had a classmate who did not celebrate her fifth birthday until two years after we graduated from high school. Today, somewhere out there, she celebrates her eleventh birthday. Today I went to school with Froggy, A Frog in the Bog, and a fuzzy frog with floppy legs who doesn't leap and doesn't hop on my lap. Today little children gathered at my feet and listened to and sometimes interacted with the Frog stories. On occassion, with some help, the fuzzy frog with the floppy legs who doesn't leap and doesn't hop would let out a croak but otherwise he sat silently in his own chair. The children, too fun, sometimes silly frog stories, and a fuzzy frog with floppy legs who doesn't leap and doesn't hop on this special day. This extra day, this gift, this day that still leaves the shortest month of the year the shortest month of the year, this once every four years day, this last day of February, this February 29, 2008, this "Leap Day" of this "Leap Year". On the three years in between, February 28 is the last day of this month, but not this year, not this first year. This first year? You see, the fuzzy frog with the floppy legs who doesn't leap and doesn't hop and only croaks with help belonged to my Dad. It was given to him by someone very special (Bea) who had floppy legs that didn't leap and didn't hop, just like mine, just like the fuzzy frog. My Dad whose birthday is February 28. My Dad who wasn't here to celebrate his birthday this first year. This first year he celebrated in a far better place. This first year there was a far greater celebration, a heavenly celebration, and maybe some "Angel Food Cake"? A far sweeter, sweeter than we can begin to imagine celebration! I can picture him smiling and his arms with hands lifted high and singing joyous praises to the One Whose amazing grace made this all possible. For it was twenty one years ago this February when my Dad knelt down at an altar of prayer and humbly received God's gracious gift of eternal life. It was there and then that this man who lived from age nine without an earthly father was adopted into the family of his Heavenly Father. It was there and then that my earthly father became my eternal brother along with Jesus our Lord and Savior. It was there and then that the celebration started and now...exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ask or think is what he is experiencing! So, on this day, this first leap, with the children and the fuzzy frog with floppy legs who couldn't leap and couldn't hop was where I belonged. So, on this day, this first leap, I have reason to celebrate the gift of life...abundant life and eternal life! So, on this day, this first leap, I have reason to celebrate for one day these floppy legs that cannot leap and cannot hop will leap and hop on streets of gold with my Dad and with Bea who gave him the fuzzy frog and with my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. So, on this day, this first leap, I remember and give thanks for the love of my earthly father! So, on this day, this first leap, I remember and give thanks for the love of my Heavenly Father! So, on this day, this first leap, I remember that you are both somehow always with me, always a part of me both now and forever and I rejoice! "This is the day that the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!"

Truly Love

Valentine’s Day…flowers will be given, sweets…little candy hearts, heart shaped boxes full of chocolates…sweets from and for a sweetheart…cards carefully chosen…in expression of love on this day. In schools children will give cute cards to their classmates…seems not so long ago I was one of those children, life and love were so simple and so innocent then…I belonged to a family, I had parents, a Dad and a Mom, who loved, cared for me, provided for me, were always there for me…there was a place called home, not just a house to live in, but a home…a place of belonging, safety, security, and love…I look back now and realize how blessed I was (I am), I realize how much I had (have) to be thankful for, I knew then that I was and I know now that I am loved.

So let us say“I love you”, for it needs to be said, however the true measure of love expresses itself, shows forth, in our actions, in the things we do, otherwise the word “love” rings hollow, is empty, for love is a verb, it is a doing, showing, taking action word, it is a decision we make, and it is to be demonstrated. I am thankful that this is the kind of love I have and do experience. Thank You Father and thank You Jesus for continuously demonstrating Your love for me and to me! Today I want to live a life demonstrating love to You and for You, loving You with all of my heart and loving others as You love me. So, on this day of giving sweets, there is nothing sweeter in my life than being in love with You. So, on this day of giving hearts, I give my heart anew to You…loving, trusting, seeking You with all my heart! So, on this day of giving flowers that look so pretty and smell so fragrant but soon fade away, I am thankful that there is no beauty more glorious or fragrant so pleasant as Your ever abiding presence in my life, than Your Holy Word, never fading, never failing, everlasting…sweeter, more fragrant, more glorious, more beautiful as time goes on. So, on this day as cards and love letters are given, I am thankful You have given a card, a love letter, Your Word, that is forever, there is nothing I possess that is sweeter, more precious or treasured. Today I am loved beyond measure…so I would love as You love…I would share Your love with ALL!

His Passion for You

There is One though unseen is always present with you (and me), the One Who knows your hurt, suffering, pain, the One Who knows your stress and the heavy burden on your heart…the One Who bids us to cast all our cares upon Him…all who labor and are heavy laden…and find rest, rest for your soul (Matthew 11:28-30). The One Who is humble and lowly in Spirit and yet sits at the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20) forever interceding for us (Hebrews 7:25). A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…despised and rejected…oppressed, afflicted, stricken…the One Who bore our grief and carried our sorrows…wounded, bruised, crushed, punished…the One Who poured out His very soul…all for us (Isaiah 53). The Man troubled, deeply distressed, “Exceedingly sorrowful…” (Mark 14:33-34) as He prayed. Today I beheld The Man…The Son of God…willingly suffering and laying down His life, demonstrating His love and His Father’s love (Romans 5:8)…for me, for you, for whosoever…for God so loved the world (John 3:16)! Today I beheld my Savior, my Lord, my Jesus, suffering beyond comprehension, dying, and resurrected! Today I beheld Jesus purchasing (1 Peter 1:18-19) the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23)! Wednesday, February 6 (nine months since my Dad passed on to his eternal home), Ash Wednesday, marked the beginning of this season of Lent leading up to our glorious celebration of Jesus’ resurrection (just like He said) on Easter Sunday morning. I remember too His passion for me, I look to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), I focus on Him, I seek to follow Him and His example (Philippians 2:5), I desire to love Him and love like Him, to share His love and love as He loved (John 15:12). So loved, so blessed, so thankful…through it all! Not always easy, not always enjoyable, through hurt, pain, difficulties, and trials…I know all too well but even more so does my Jesus, in the midst of it all, He knows, He understands, He is ever present, He whispers, “Peace be still, I AM with you” and I know everything is going to be alright, and there is peace surpassing understanding, and there is hope, eternal hope, and there are promises, eternal promises, and there is life, eternal life, and there is an eternal home where there will be no more suffering or pain. Hallelujah! These are His words…these are His promises…this is where I place my trust…this is where I place my faith…in the One Who is Faithful and True…in Jesus. So, I share this with you because I love you. Comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18)