Unexpected Love

Have you ever had one of those days? Where nothing seems to go right?

Well, once upon a time, this Christmas season I was feeling stressed, and lonely due to unmet expectations and graveyard dreams. I left work wrapped up in my big coat, where I could hide so no one would know that I was fighting back tears. But you know what? God sees. I cannot hide from Him. I can put on a façade for everyone else but God sees inside of me, the beautiful and the ugly. “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar” Psalm 139:1-2. (NIV).  I shuffled outside into the cold. There were some children standing with the Salvation Army bell ringer. One of them offered me a little felt tree. “Do you want a tree”? His little voice piqued with eagerness. “I don’t have any money”, I told the little boy as I shifted through my pockets. “You don’t need any money. It’s a gift”. His childish voice bore through my heart as I received not only the gift of the tree but also the gift of love.  I took the little felt ornament, thanked the boy and almost ran to the car where my aching heart cried. “The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” Psalm 34:18 (NIV). God’s love is free. None of us deserve it. But God gave of Himself willingly and fully. Won’t you accept the gift of Jesus today?