The True Love Story
Time is a quizzical creation.
There are my young years when I looked forward to adding another year to my life, always wanting ‘to be old enough’ to attain my next goal. I didn’t realize that even when I was in my 60’s, my Mother would still view me as her child. I didn’t realize the responsibilities that would be added with each year I acquired. Impatiently, I waited for ‘my own life’ as a married woman when I could make my own decisions. Even minor decisions as to how I would wash the dishes, when to clean the house, to how I would raise my children.
Now we watch the passing years as a gift from God…to contemplate His goodness, faithfulness and unconditional love.
Somehow, Mother’s voice followed me, not in person, but ingrained, as I washed the dishes one day and I realized that I followed the same procedure she taught me long ago. Not only did she teach me about the dishes, she taught me love by her examples….of selfless love for my Dad, her obedience to our Lord, and her respect and love for her parents and grandparents. And helping others was always a part of her life, as well as Dad’s.
What lies beneath this love? What is the foundation? How long will it last? Can it be forever?
My Dad and Mother’s love story is chronicled here. A bit about Anna Loewen Suderman is here.
Our 56th anniversary story is here.
I found an invitation to my Loewen Great Grandparent’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. What a treasure. It seemed that the spectre death separated these participants in their love story. Fifty years for my Suderman grandparents, and fifty years for my parents.
This February 1st, Ed and I will be married for 57 years. We look at each other in wonder at the added years with thanksgiving and celebration. And yet, even as our children and grandchildren write their own love stories in time, there is a greater Love Story that motivates us all.
Tears came to my eyes, as I read from John 10:27 – 30. Yes, I knew John 3:16, I knew Matthew 28:18-20 (And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world). John 14:1-7 and other verses. But the reality of the picture presented in John 10:27 – 30,captured my heart.
Never before had I realized how huge and encompassing is our Father’s love for each of us. No matter which part of the globe we happen to live. It is THE motivator to live life for Him. It brings a security as no other in this world today can give. No insurance policy, no savings account or nest egg, not the number of friends on Facebook (yes, I am there), or attaining great riches can bring the assurance of our very being, as a belief in and dependence and trust in our Father in Heaven and His only begotten Son, Jesus.
Long I have wondered how and why my family has been so steadfast in their lives in following Jesus over the many transitions from country to country, from language to language, from government to government. Their acceptance of fewer comforts that we consider ‘our right’ is amazing in 2009. Their acceptance of the deaths of their little ones, failures of crops that could have provided food puts us to shame in our world of handouts from the government and super-complaining prowess which we consider our right – rather than faithfulness.
No matter how we celebrate earthly love stories, the ultimate celebration is The True Love Story.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
How big is our God? Are we sheep, who knows our Shepherd’s voice? Do we believe? If so these verses provide security and an assurance of eternal life.