Love, Loves Details

Scripture:  I Corinthians 13:8a - Love Never Fails...  

My then-urologist in his younger years enjoyed lacrosse recreationally, which allowed him ten fingers, which were all like thumbs.  It had little importance to our discussion of my decision to have a vasectomy [although it would be a brief point of consideration as I neared prostate-checking age, a detail for perhaps a later report]. Debora and I were in agreement, given our age, and the experiencing of three pregnancies and two childbirths, that my snip-snip would be more feasible to have, for us, than hers.

We had met in Memphis [a miracle of sorts], we had wed in Nashville [Debora's home town], and we had our first child in Flint, Michigan [where my residency-training took place]. Robert,our first-born, declared his personality immediately, and I was the first to see this, being allowed to deliver him, with the obstetrician nearby.  In a flash,I thought of all the things that could quickly go wrong with this, and inwardly became nervous.  But all went well, and my fear of dropping him did not come to pass, even though he was loud, and lively,and slippery.  I knew this to be normal, and was gladdened for it, even though he peed on me. A working bladder is a thing to rejoice.  We all rejoiced.  Sean, our second son, came differently, and followed the second pregnancy which ended early, naturally, and had us contemplative and not so distinctly joyful, though we would have known "... all things work together for good, to them that love the Lord...".  Sean was the product of our third pregnancy, and unlike Robert, though on time- he was quiet, too quiet, even quiet at 10 seconds past being delivered, and as I watched him ushered to the side by a huddle of attendants, I could also see him not to be moving, at all. I think we all stopped breathing just then, and whether voiced or not, I heard from Debora,"Is my baby okay?" I cannot remember answering, but I remember our joy, when his weak cry began, and he was brought to us. That day at Mercy Hospital, LOVE showed us mercy again in this small, troubled package, who now lives in New Bedford, Massachusetts, a thirty-one year old, independent, young man, a Christian.
   
 When I think about these things, I am amazed at how God works, and how clueless I often am, amazed to see how the love of God handles the details to see certain things happen remarkably, often.  Through friends and family I have been privy to many specialized histories that only God could have arranged, many filled with pleasantries, detours, and trials- all stories still yet being written with love's ink.  I am reminded that, "He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it..." [Philippians 1:6]

So, how detailed is God's love?  Consider this:
"Love is patient, and is kind; love does not envy, love is not vain or puffed up, does not behave badly, is not selfish, is not easily provoked, invites no evil, nor enjoys it, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and is enduring. LOVE never fails...but, when that which is perfect arrives, then that which is in part shall be done away." (1st Corinthians13:4-8a,10 ) Love is perfect, and perfecting.  Love's fingerprint is forever.

Knowing LOVE such as this, even knowing it imperfectly, makes hope for today's challenges, and for the future, powerfully reasonable.  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your loving grace and mercy, and how You choose to have LOVE bump into me a certain way, just when I need it, just as I need it [even when I don't recognize it].  Lord help me to see life better, more clearly, through the lens of love, and may You get the glory, for all of the fruit of love, that comes. Amen, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

(by Dr. McNeal Brockington)