It’s amazing to think that there was a day in which I didn’t know your name.

It’s amazing to think that there’s just something to the way we turn from strangers to realized family in sometimes no more than a day. A conversation here, and a night of laughter there, and all of a sudden, you’ve got a place in my heart that’s always near. We’re not a lot alike, yet we’re all the same at that. We’ve got our frailties and failures and strengths and hopes and pasts. You’ve seen me cry and watched me be tired, and you’ve hugged me, and we’ve turned homework in down to the wire. We’ve gone on walks and had very long talks, and listened to the rain and new bands and drums when they clang. You’ve laughed with me and cared to learn my name, what makes me tick, and my everything that is my dreams. You’ve wanted to be next to me, have let me forgive you as much as you forgive me, and let Divineness come to humanity each day that you called. You weren’t expected even though our God knows us perfectly, and I am surprised and smile every time I think of you and me. I’d call you when I wanted to smile. I’d call you when I needed to cry. You’d answer the phone, and just listen and chat for a while. You’d tell me about your heart and make me laugh with something that you’d call art. And it’s been letters and emails and facebook messages and car rides, and lake walks, and camp hills, and sledding trips, and nights in and nights out, and all the things inbetween. And I’ve loved every moment, you see, because I love you, and you love me. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d never choose to leave.

When people see our lives I know they marvel, not because of what we’ve done.

But because they can see that you’re family today, even though there have been days before when I didn’t even know your name.

I love you.

…because love wins.

“Are not lifelong friendships born at the moment when at last you meet another human being who has some inkling (but faint and uncertain even in the best) of that something which you were born desiring, and which, beneath the flux of other desires and in all the momentary silences between the louder passions, night and day, year by year, from childhood to old age, you are looking for, watching for, listening for?” -C.S. Lewis

Yes, yes, they are.

…because love wins.

The words.
Tossed about like the wind.
Like the chaff that flips lightly into the summer breeze.
I squint my eyes to hear as they float off.
What is that you say?
I cannot hear you for the sun I see over there is too bright.
I can, though, see your eyes, light.
And they tell me that those words are gone.
That they float off as the momentary part of this wave that they are.
But don’t you know?
Didn’t you hear?
That as they float off, they remain?
Don’t you remember that your tongue is a sword?
That your joy isn’t what those syllables say.
That your heartache doesn’t matter if it’s just consonants and vowels.
That those words cut the wind and moved it, and gave hope.
And threw that away all at the same time?
You don’t understand what they whispered when you screamed.
You don’t understand the truth that wafts past us all.
Think before you speak, because in the wind they float.
In the wind they remind.
And in the wind, they move the air that holds me and we breathe.
Forever until the end of this place.

Words.
Small.
Yet great.
If only action followed in their
place.

Let us paint rainbows where there’s been rain. Don’t again spin a hurricane in the breeze. Yet be the sound of butterflies and the actions of life and the falling snow of sentences and paragraphs and smiles and laughs. So then you may stand in something and not chase the wind, and see with me the brightness of the pages filled with memories that don’t run and leave and fall all over the place.

Shhh, dear one. Listen. Do you hear that?

He said He would come back in three days. And the wind didn’t hold such Truth, for it remained on my rock. Thrice has passed, and actions followed and didn’t fade like the autumn grass.

Someday you shall understand that. And stop taking it all for granted.

Someday, we shall understand it all.

…because love wins.

Stop.
Listen.
Do you hear that?
It’s a heart beat.
Created the day in which,
He,
Your Abba,
thought you into being.
He breathed life within you,
chose the color of your eyes,
dreamt with you of all you’d do,
and life as it would be,
a surprise.
He was already seated with you,
on the throne,
and in the valley.
He knew each tear,
and knew your life’s balance.
He anticipated the silence,
and when you’d need a hug.
He knew he’d never say:
“No, right now,
you’re too much.”
He’s been patient.
Humble.
Quiet.
Roaring like a lion.
Walking in the sun,
dancing in the rain,
and with you, giving a smile.
He would never say He’d leave,
for He never has.
Because He’ll always stop with you,
and listen,
and forever hold your hand.

Remember now, there’s always you and Him. Remember, from where you’ve come.

—

As we sit here and overlook this all, You smile with me, and dream with me, and gaze upon each thing; big and small. We fall in love and are best friends, and all fear is gone, and all hurt finds itself in mend. You know the grains of sand, and the hairs on my head, and you whisper to me secrets of life, and conquering of death. You aren’t like the rest, and you don’t give as the world gives. You remind me that love covers a multitude, and there will actually, really, one day, be nothing but bliss. So for now, You breathe with me, in and out and in and out, and tell me that You know. Know that I wasn’t created for this world, but that while here, standing on You, You’ll let glory shine, and never, ever, will You let go.

…because love wins.

“Talk is cheap. Give me a word that you can keep.”

…because love wins.

Hear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant
who trusts in you.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servent,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.
You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abouding in love to all who call to
you.
Hear my prayer, O Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
In the day of my trouble I will call to
you,
for you will answer me.

Among the gods there is none like
you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you,
O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous
deeds;
you alone are God.

Teach me your way, O Lord,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with
all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the
depths of grave.

The arrogant are attacking me, O God;
a band of ruthless men seeks my
life-
men without regard for you.
But you, O Lord, are compassionate
and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love
and faithfulness.
Turn to me and have mercy on me;
grant your strength to your servant
and save the son of your
maidservant.
Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be
put to shame,
for you, O Lord, have helped me and
comforted me.

…because love wins.

“I have a very strong feeling that the opposite of love is not hate; it’s apathy – just not caring at all.”

Jesus never doesn’t care.

…because love wins.

I heard a new song on the radio tonight. It’s called Lead. Have a listen.

God speaks. I assure you.

http://findingfortress.com/finding_fortress_music.html

Seems nobody knows you, and nobody cares because everyone seems to be so focused on themselves. But we are Your children; Your daughters and sons. The body that You have made to tell of Your great love. So lead oh Lord just lead, ’cause we can’t walk this path alone. And be, oh Lord, yes be, the savior to a dying world. The world is a battle, of the good and the bad. So many have fallen down and never bounced right back. But You are the shelter, from the heat of the storm. We need Your strength and love more than ever before. His love is abundant, but time’s running low, so forget about yourselves and learn to follow.

…because love wins.