Recently our family went on vacation. One of the things I love about vacation is being together for more than just an evening meal. Justin and I have hit that season of life where two of our boys are teenagers and their time with us at home will come to an end sooner than I think all of us are ready for. We cherish every day we get with them.
My favorite things to do on vacation (besides hang with my family) is to look at the ocean untill the salt in the air makes my eyes red and read however many books I can squeeze into one vacation. This year I read “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers and “Loves Does” by Bob Goff. Both we were amazing in their own unique ways.
“Love Does” however struck my heart in a way that I’m not sure I can put into words. The way Bob writes about how he engages with his wife, his children, his friends and God is both inspiring and hilarious. In his own words…
“Being engaged is away of doing life, a way of living and loving. It’s about going to extremes and expressing the bright hope that life offers us, a hope that makes us brave and expels darkness with light. That’s what I want my life to be about full of abandon, whimsy, and in love. I want to be engaged to life and with this life.”
I read those words while sitting on the beach and when I looked up from my page whimsy and love were right before my eyes. My boys were playing in the waves with Justin (who seemed the most enthused) and Bob’s words saturated my heart as I engaged in that moment. I was reminded how blessed I am to be a mom and wife. I was reminded of the emotional ups and downs each of us have faced in the day-today hard lessons of life. Lessons learned that caused us to want to stop engaging with each other, with our friends and with the world. But we didn’t because “love does”.
Bob goes on to say:
“The kind of love Jesus talked about, a love that never grows tired or is completely finished finding ways to fully express itself.”
I never want to grow tired of finding ways to express my love for the people God has placed in my life although I know there will be times my wounded heart will convince me otherwise. But I know this isn’t a love sustained by a formula nor is it a love easily attainted. It’s a love that takes work but in the midst of our labor of love are glimpses of whimsy found in the eyes of a father who loves his sons. Love found in the embrace of a husband who whispers “you are beautiful” because “love does”.
Yesterday morning I left for California via airplane and today I will be leaving California via car with my dearest friend Lindsey and her dog Molly. Yesterday I embarked on a crazy adventure that I have no idea what God has in store for us. I have no idea where whimsy and love will meet us. I have never flown to California just to drive back to the place from which I came. But I do know that I am choosing to be engaged. I’m soaking in the opportunity to move someone I love “back home” because a life fully engaged is what LOVE DOES!
My prayer for you today is that you will be overwhelmed with the audacious love God has for you. No matter if your world is crumbling around you or you’re taking a step back to take in the beautiful picture of restoration GOD IS NEAR.
He came and died for you regardless of your circumstances because that’s what LOVE DOES!
Two questions for you to choose from today:
What is the best book you’ve read lately?
What is the craziest thing “love has done” in your life?
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