Happy “Love” Day everyone!!!
I’ve learned a lot about love this past year and felt compelled to share because I’m realizing life is so short and I don’t want to be silent anymore.
Through the life, and death (read her story HERE), of my sweet mom this past year, the Lord has woken me up to the power of love…and how true love is sacrifice. If we are only thinking of ourselves, if we are not sacrificing ourselves, if we are not uncomfortable, if we don’t have to give something for another, then it isn’t the right kind of love.
Love is laying ourselves down for another…and thereby breathing life into another. That is what my mom has shown me…that is what the Lord has shown me.
Wednesday was my mom’s earthly birthday…and the first and last time we’ll be celebrating it without her. It gives me so much comfort and hope to know that Sept 22nd is her new Heavenly birthday and the new day I will be remembering her birthday. On that day I will celebrate with all the angels as they throw her a big party in Heaven as she turns one! I miss her so much, but am so happy she is in the presence of our Savior!
My sister, dad and I went to see her grave stone on Wednesday. We reminisced about how powerful her legacy is…how great her love was for her Jesus, her kids, grand kids, family and friends.
As I stood amidst the 300,000 grave stones around her, I was powerfully reminded that I only have a breath with my kids, my husband and the people God brings into my life every day…a breath!
Life is a vapor and then it’s gone. There were two grave stones next to my mom’s of two women who were my age. One born in 1975 and one born in 1977. It’s sobering to see…that one day, it will be me.
So, what do I leave behind? – what can I leave behind?
Love.
Love stands forever. For love is of God…God is love.
Love is power.
Love changes everything.
Love changes hearts and lives.
Jesus came with the purpose to share His love and show His love…that is all. And He changed the life of every single person He touched. He gave them all a new life, a new heart, a new purpose because He loved them.
Love is the legacy I want to leave those who know me. This year…and for the remaining days I’m given here, I pray the Lord would help me love deeper, more powerfully and more whole heatedly the people He has placed in my life.
Love is oxygen to our soul.
Without it, people perish. Without it, we cannot be the full and complete people He created us to be.
Lord, help us to love deeply. Help us to love sacrificially as you did…to choose to be uncomfortable and to give others the gift of your love…for it is a gift we can give, or withhold. And when we give it, we breathe life into our souls and those of the people around us.
The last night of Jesus’ life, He sat with His disciples, after just being betrayed by one of His closest friends, and says,
“A new command I give you: Love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Why is this a new command? – because He talks about loving God and others throughout the Bible?!
It’s new because He says, “as I have loved you.” Then, the next day, He showed us what that meant…by dying for us. The greatest act of love is sacrifice…and He did it for EVERY single person in the world.
Thank you mom for showing me Jesus. For living a life of sacrifice and power. There is SO much power in sacrifice…divine, heavenly, Godly power.
Thank you mom for your legacy, for your reminder that I am your legacy of love.
May I love as deeply as you did and shine like Jesus as I live out the remainder of my days!
You are well on your way on your journey of LOVE. The greatest of these is LOVE!
Thank you for that wonderful post!
Beautiful, Jess. Absolutely beautiful post! You are inspiring. And encouraging!! LOVE you to bits!!!
Love you more!!!
“If we are only thinking of ourselves, if we are not sacrificing ourselves, if we are not uncomfortable, if we don’t have to give something for another, then it isn’t the right kind of love.”
OUCH! I’m so selfish and want to receive instead of giving sacrificially to those around me. Thank you for the beautiful reminder to love as Jesus loved and give of myself for others! What a beautiful tribute to your mom and God’s working in your heart through her life!
Oh I am right there with you!!! 😉 This is what I am learning is important but have soooo far to go! I am sooo selfish too and just feel like it’s time to allow love to rule! But I will fail every day! – that’s why I am sooo thankful for a loving and gracious Father who will pick me up and allow me to try again another day! Blessings upon you and your family!!
Beautiful post. We could all up our love game,
Thank you for such a beautiful post. I love and appreciate how generous you are on such personal matters.
I know personally that when I was 19 and had just met my now mother in law, she shared with me her belief that we are all here on borrowed time, that God has a plan for us, and that we have to live each day to it’s best, what that may be for each person. In my 30’s, I now know that means to be the best wife and mother that I can be and to treat EVERYONE equally, respectfully and kindly.
What a wonderful mother in law!!! How blessed you are!!! Thank you for sharing!
She is a beautiful and wonderful person and child of God. To top it off, I have my own mother who has those same qualities. I have not practiced my faith for years, but from my mum, mother in law and your blog, I am beginning to discover the wisdom and peace that it brings to all who have faith. I guess that with age, I am beginning to listen, something I didn’t do as a teenager.
Your ability to articulate your thoughts and how faith helps to shape them (sorry if I haven’t worded that correctly) has inspired me.
Love you, sweet sister!!
such a real post- thank you for sharing! So thankful that you are reaching out to a ton of people who may have never heard about Christ’s love…or they just need to be reminded… happy valentine’s day to you and your family!
Thought provoking . I am reminded of the legacy I want to leave behind. Thanks for sharing Jessica. You always inspire me.
Thank you for sharing your inner most thoughts and your love for our Lord. I knew you were a wonderful cake artist, now I know that you are a wonderful person.