Shadows

In the cool of a crisp fall morning there is frost. The sun rises and melts the frost everywhere except where shadows fall. The sun does not melt what is hidden from it's rays.

Love is light....

The perfect picture of love is found in a man who died, well, who was actually betrayed and murdered by a group of people and even some of his best friends. He was spit on and called names. But as he was dying, with one of his last breaths, he asked for forgiveness for the very ones who hated, mocked and killed him. A love stronger than life. A love deeper than imaginable. Perfect love. The son of God. The son that melts the heart, is like the sun that melts the frost.

Having so much love for someone that even in betrayal and death you forgive them....is hard to imagine. It's hard enough to forgive those close to us for the little things....so what kind of love does it take for love that perfect, that pure? But that is how Jesus loves us. All of us. YOU. This unimaginable love will melt away anything that we let it shine on, changing us. Like the sun and the frost. But what we keep hidden, those areas where we won't let the sun shine, will be blanketed in cold frost, frozen. Unchanged. He wants to change EVERY part of us. Even the smallest shadowy crevice that we barely notice. He wants it all. All of me. All of YOU. Even the hurt, broken, ashamed, or unworthy parts hidden in the shadows.

The only way a shadow is not cast is by the sun being straight above. When the sun's rays are falling straight down, in oneness with the object. One. Perfect love wants to be one with us, me, you, covering like a warm blanket of light so there is no more shadow, no more cold, just love.

Love is searching for you today, like the sun searches for the shadows. He wants to fill those unreachable, hidden places with a love that is unimaginable. Like the love he showed in his death that is stronger, deeper, more important than life itself. A love that will change your heart, your life and your future.

And just as this perfect love cover us, so we should strive to cover others with our love, as imperfect as it might be. Understanding despite our differences. Forgiving despite our hurt. Giving despite our lack. Showing patience despite our stress or discontent (I am horrible at this one)! Loving regardless of the sin, wrong or flaw we think we might see in others. We are all broken. We all have shadows. We all need love.

This is a blurry picture my daughter took (and added to) of the frost in the morning shadows....