One morning several years ago, my son’s Miniature Schnauzer, Samantha—who had come to live with us until my son could find a place that could accommodate his yappy little friend—ate something that caused her to become deathly ill.
At first her symptoms were mild; nonetheless, I set up an appointment that afternoon with the veterinarian. Keeping Samantha close, it wasn’t long before I realized her condition was quickly deteriorating. Not waiting, I whisked her away to our vet who had us take her almost immediately to a specialist in Nashville.
After three days in intensive care, a wobbly, but recuperating Samantha was released to us. On the car ride home it became apparent that something had changed. Samantha had made me her person.
I now realize this happened because in Samantha’s deepest and most desperate moment I saw she was in trouble and took care of her. She aligned herself with me because she knew I loved her.
In thinking about this, I began to realize that the same bond of love forms between the Lord and each of us when we begin to understand that He sees us. And that He accepts and loves us where we are and just as we are.
My story is that the Lord found me again, when, as a Christian, I had drifted and strayed far away. He put me back on His path and lovingly began to discipline and teach me His ways that I had forgotten. He walked with me and freed me from the bonds of legalism. He brought me to a place of peace and freedom when absolute surrender to Him took place in my heart.
Surrendering to the Lord surely didn’t look like I thought it would. I tried more times than I can count to make it happen. I would say, “I surrender to You, Lord. I want that more than anything.” It wasn’t until I gave up, confessing that I can’t even surrender on my own, that it truly happened.
Deep in my heart I must have believed that before the Lord would accept me I still had to make some things right. That is so far from the truth.
Jesus tells us that He wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. (See John 4:23-24.) It is out of His deepest love that He tells us this. He also wants us to know that in the hidden places where we think we are most unlovable, that He loves us even there.
He sees us.
He calls us by name.
He wraps His arms of grace and forgiveness around us because
He has made us His own.
(See Isaiah 43:1.)
Heavenly Father,
I pray that each of us will continue to come to You, worshiping You in Spirit and in Truth. Only You can untangle what is tangled within our hearts. Only You can heal. Only You can save us. Please remind us when we face those ugly places where sin is hidden within, to be honest as only the Holy Spirit can make us. To give up in surrender to You, trusting completely in Your grace and mercy.
In Jesus name,
Amen
~ Merry Christmas ~
With much love,
Kimberly
