never unloved

Last week, I had such a blessed time with my dad.  Although the outward man is decaying quite rapidly, the inward man is just as strong, if not stronger than he was.  His body is week and failing, but his faith is still so strong.  One afternoon during our visit I played this song for him by Michael W. Smith (it is one of the the songs on the play list at the bottom of the page, if you would like to listen to it).  

I have been unfaithful

I have been unworthy

I have been unrighteous

And I have been unmerciful

I have been unreachable

I have been unteachable

I have been unwilling

And I've been undesirable

And sometimes I have been unwise

I've been undone by what I'm unsure of

But because of you

And all that you went through

I know that I have never been unloved

I have been unbroken

I have been unmended

I have been uneasy

And I've been unapprochable

I've been unemotional

I've been unexceptional

I've been undecided

And I have been unqualified

Unaware - I have been unfair

I've been unfit for blessings from above

But even I can see

The sacrifice You made for me

To show that I have never been unloved

Unaware - I have been unfair

I've been unfit for blessings from above

But even I can see

The sacrifice You made for me

To show that I have never been unloved

It's because of you

And all that you went through

I know that I have never been unloved

The intent of this song is to show Christ's unconditional love for us.  One reason that I can understand His unconditional love for me (and all of us) so well is because my father has displayed it to me throughout my entire life.  I can honestly say that not a day of my life has passed that I didn't fee love.  I have been lonely or hurt or all the other emotions this song mentions, but never, never unloved, regardless of my behavior.  This is a precious gift that I am quite aware not all have.  NO ONE has had to convince me that God is Love because my dad lived it for me and my mom continues to do so.  

After I played this song for my dad he weakly said, "What do you think this song is about?"  To which I replied, "I think it is about God's unconditional love for us.  I want to thank you, Dad, for showing this love to me my entire life and for giving me this gift. Dad, I have never questioned your love for me and I want to thank you for that.  I have always known love."  He simply replied in his failing voice, "Karie, I've just been showing you Jesus. It was Christ IN me.  It's all about Him."  

And it is, truly is, all about Jesus.  

I'm not sure if you have felt loved your entire life or not.  If you have not, my heart breaks for you because it is not truth.  But, even if you haven't FELT loved, you have been loved, that is a promise from The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the one who created you (his masterpiece of all creation) and knit you together in your mother's womb.  His love is a free gift, all you have to to is grab it and it never fails.

Romans 5:8  "Yet God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

(yep, that's me . . . cute little peanut, huh?) 

(best birthday ever)

(we were "Hans" and "Frans")

Love you, Dad

C.S. Lewis said, "There are a thousand roads that lead to the wilderness and one that leads home."  By the life he lived, it is evident that my dad was on the road that led home and upon his arrival, I am confident he heard these words: "Well done, my good and faithful servant."