A GOD-KIND-OF-LOVE
Ephesians 1:3-8
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
About 10 years ago a major shift occurred in my life. It was the year our first grandchild was born. I’d never quite understood the “grandchild love” that people talked about. And then I discovered that they undersold the whole thing.
Up until then, Judith, my wife, and I had quietly been fantasizing about moving away from the wonderful winters of Ohio and envisioned waking up each morning looking out a window to the swaying of palm trees. Now, we can’t imagine spending long stretches of time without a hug from one of our (now three with another on the way) grandchildren.
I have been known to drastically alter my driving route just to stop by for a few minutes at the grandkid’s house. (Yeah, their parents live there too.) It sometimes is awkward when my daughter comes to the door, and she knows I’m not there to see her. I love her, but there’s a special kind of love that I didn’t know existed until 10 years ago. When one of the grands comes running into the room shouting, “Pop!” my heart is filled with some strange warm and fuzzy feeling. There is not a thing I wouldn’t do for those three!
What’s great is I don’t have to ask, “Is your homework done?” I’m not burdened with the frustration of their messy bedroom. I don’t care if they haven’t had a bath. I’m just there to spread some love to some grandkids I’m crazy about.
My love for Ashton, Micah, and Hadley has deepened my understanding of God’s love for us. Paul got it right when he said that God “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing” (vs 3), loved us before the world was made (vs 4), that it gave God great pleasure to have us in the family (vs 5), and that we have been showered with kindness (vs 8).
It’s a love that isn’t earned. It’s love that is undeserved. It’s a God-kind-of-love.
Mark Garrett
Legacy Christian Church, Harrison, OH