“First this: God created the Heavens and Earth–all you see, all you don’t see. Earth was soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, and inky blackness. God’s Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss. God spoke: ‘Light!’ And light appeared. God saw that light was good and seperated light from dark. God named the light Day, he named the dark Night. It was evening, it was morning—Day One.”–Genesis 1:1-5 (The Message)

“God spoke: ‘Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of the Earth.’ God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: ‘Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take Charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of the Earth.”–Genesis 1:26-27 (The Message)  

This love began in the very beginning. God sent God’s son as the ultimate example of God’s love for God’s people. And today I found myself relishing in the love of a mother with her daughter. My Mom was able to come to my town today and we spent some time together. It was so glorious. I found myself taking in every moment with her. I went to work this morning and then picked Mom up at about noon. I picked her up, I did a few errands, and then we went to her beloved dollar store. I watched as she carefully chose presents for those she loves and who care for her at the nursing home. After we got down at the dollar store, we went back to the church because I need to be there for a quick meeting. I settled her in my room where she sat and listened to some Christmas music. After my meeting, Mom and I went out for supper. As we were eating the bus driver called and said that he was waiting for us at my house. The bus driver was so kind and said he would come to the restaurant to pick her up. Spending time with my mom reminds me of the amaziness of God’s love. Mom delights over the littlest things. She doesn’t really care what we do as long as we get to spend time together.

After Mom left, I came back to my house, sat down on my couch, and spent time reading today’s reading in my Advent devotional book. I along with several of my blogger friends are reading through Ann Voskamp’s book “The Greatest Gift.” As I read today’s reading, I smiled as today’s reading is titled “Life begins as a Love Story.” Today I experienced that to its absolute fullest! We are created and formed for love.

“No matter your story before, this is your beginning now; you were formed by Love….for love.”——The Greatest Gift; Ann Voskamp

During this season of Advent , I am going to try and take the time to relish in this love; to experience it every day more fully; to trust and wait for this precious child who brings hope, light and love into this world. I love this quote from Ann Voskamp’s book.

“So go to the window. Go to the hills, the desert, the corner, the back door, and be ravished and taken and awed, and you who were made by Love, made for love–be still and know and watch love come down. The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God. And the greatest gift we can give our great God is to let his love make us glad.”–Ann Voskamp

In this shattered broken world, perhaps we could be more kind to each other, more patient with each other, and simply share the power of God’s love with the world. For it is God who first showed that love to us and who asks us to show that love with one another. For on the cross, God reminded us of the power of that love.

“The Christmas story, this love story–the whole blue marble of the world spinning right now on the Cross-beam axis of Love.”–Ann Voskamp

From the manger in Bethlehem to a hill in Calvary, God’s love sprouts forth for all the world to share.