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January 09, 2008

What Kind of Love Is That?

by Shana Schutte

I couldn't sleep last night because something I read online hit me hard before I hit the pillow. So when I should have been getting my beauty sleep, I was thinking about love instead.

Around 9 p.m., I visited a blog written by a man named Tom who lost his wife just a few short months ago to breast cancer. As part of his journey through grief, he's recording his heartache--and his hope.

He's also remembering love. And that's why I woke up groggy this morning.

"My love for her will never fade," he writes. "[It] was a love of devotion with no conditional boundaries. I would marry her all over again if I knew we had to face the adversity of breast cancer."

Ah! I thought, What kind of love is that? The words pierced my heart with longing. Doesn't everyone deeply desire that kind of acceptance? To be valued and cherished without condition, even when we're not our best?

As I woke this morning, my longing for romance was replaced with thoughts of Jesus. I wondered if He would die for me all over again if He knew how difficult I'd be. If He knew my stubborness, pride and imperfections. Of course, that's a crazy question, because He does know everything about everyone--and in advance. The answer is obvious. Yes! He loves me like that!

And He loves you like that.

Even when you're not your best--and even when you are sick with sin. If He had to, (which I'm thankful that He doesn't), He'd do it all over again.

Ah, glory! What kind of love is that?

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

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