| How's Your Love Life? - article by Joel Hempel
Who are you in love with? Maybe your spouse, if you have one; your children and grandchildren, if you have any; someone special God has brought into your circle? Best friend(s)? I hope you are enjoying at least some of that love. I am. But that is not the love I’m talking about. How is the love between you and Jesus? As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love (John 15:9). As most of us know from Scripture, God’s love is unlike anything we have experienced from a human being – even the one with whom we are most in love. That fact alone may be why we can lose touch with God’s love. And losing touch with God’s love is detrimental to our spiritual and emotional health. God’s love is unique, not only in how he loved us but also in why he loved us. Marcia and I have both hurt each other in the past – still do on rare occasions. And it is often rough getting through the pain to reconciliation. But in retrospect, I must say the gift of undeserved mercy I received from Marcia was and is restorative. And it gave me a taste of what it means to abide in God’s love. Not long ago, I went to a doctor’s appointment at Barnes Hospital. I was in a bad mood, frustrated about something I won’t go into. When I checked in at the front desk, the new receptionist told me: Have a seat, and someone will call you. I told her that’s not what I’ve done in the past: The previous receptionist always sent me right back to a treatment room. That’s not how it works, sir. She assured me. Really! I don’t think that’s right, but I’ll sit down. I then mumbled something under my breath. The entire time I was with the doctor. I was upset with myself. Because that morning and every morning, I pray that my behavior will make God proud and that my words will reflect his love. On my way out, I stopped by the receptionist’s desk. I apologize for my bad attitude. What bad attitude? I don’t know what you mean. I was rude; I gave you a hard time for no reason, and I’m sorry. The lady said nothing, but the woman sitting beside her stood up, raised her hand, and declared: Yes! Give me five! That’s what I mean. Thank you! A moment later as I started to walk away: God bless you! I didn’t deserve the forgiveness, and although I didn’t receive it directly from the woman I insulted, her surrogate knew I was in the wrong but went out of her way to assure me that I could walk away free of guilt and shame. If you have never deeply offended someone and then received their forgiving love, I invite you to at least consider how offensive you have been in your relationship with God. Remember at least a few of the most egregious ways you have violated His Love. Linger there long enough to remember the guilt and shame – and then, Feel this: God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:4-5). There is nothing sweeter than undeserved grace and compassionate love. You and I are privileged to abide in both. | 
