Turning to Love

When my child was six, we argued about something, and he grabbed a piece of paper, furiously scribbled some words, and then slapped it on the table and ran to his room. I picked it up and read, “I hate you, Mommy!”

How much that hurt! But I thought how much he must have been hurting to write it, and so I went to his room and said, “I found your note. I still love you. I will always love you, no matter what.” And his anger turned to tears and a bear hug and tear-stained kisses on both sides.

I imagine that God’s love for us is similar. When we are hurt, we turn on those we love in anger in order to hide the hurt. But God sees beyond our anger to our hurt and reminds us that God loves us no matter what. Even in those moments when we hate God–and there are times that we do–God says to us, “I still love you.” And our hearts turn to God.

God plans this reconciliation for our families, too. Whether it happens now or in God’s kingdom to come, we have Malachi’s word: God will bring us together so that hates–and hurts-disappear, and love is renewed.

Thank you, God, for your love that prevails over hate, restoring us to one another. Amen. — KDH