Showing Your Heart

Last night when Rafael and I came home, our cat, Isobel Imani Fowler, was waiting for us not far from the front door as she usually waits for us when we return from an outing. Even though I've seen this many times before, I felt joy, delight, excitement and other positive emotions to see her perched upright looking at us and waiting for us.

God is always looking at us and waiting for us. He is so excited to see us. He loves us extravagantly. God has high expectations of us. 1 John 4:7-11 Amplified Bible says, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him]. He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique [Son], into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins. Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also ought to love one another."

God loves us with passion and purpose. He doesn't have a problem getting high in holiness. Ephesians 5:18 New Living Translation Bible says, "Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit." David writes about God in Psalm 16:11 Amplified Bible, "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore."

Fill us up, and let us overflow with God who is love, joy and all that is good. God is everywhere. While God does not live inside of everyone, the root source of good that we see in people is God.

A young man wrote on a piece of pottery some time during the Nineteenth Dynasty (1304-1085 B.C.) of ancient Egypt:

"When I embrace her,
And her arms open wide,
I feel like a man in Spiceland,
Who is overwhelmed with perfume.

Then I kiss her;
And she opens her lips, Without a taste of beer,
I am intoxicated."

Love is supposed to be exciting.

Routine and rapture are not an oxymoron. Simple things like waiting at the front door for a love one like our cat waits for us shows her love of us.

A lot of little missed opportunities to show love over a long time will harm and even lead to broken relationships. A lover requests of her lover in Song of Solomon 2:15 Complete Jewish Bible, “Catch the foxes for us, yes, the little foxes! They are ruining the vineyards when our vineyards are in bloom!”

A spouse in a class I taught commented that he really wished his spouse would greet him at the door when he returned home from work, and they would talk. The other spouse did not think this would make much difference in their relationship and refused to do it.

"Do not fear going forward slowly, fear only to stand still," says a Chinese proverb.

Little steps expressing love are possible to take. Es posible for believers to change empowered by God living on the inside.

Maybe you can't wait at your front door for loved ones like our cat does. Nick Vujicic was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of both arms and both legs. He cannot hold his wife, Kanae Loida Vujicic-Miyahara, and son, Kiyoshi James Vujicic in his hands, but he can hold his family in his heart. 

Vujuicic can also speak. He is confident, creative, courageous and compassionate. Perhaps he says things to his wife like Solomon said to his Shulammite bride. Song of Solomon 4:7-10 English Standard Version Bible says, "You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; come with me from Lebanon. Depart from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards. You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice!"
  
What are some simple things we can do on a regular basis to show we care about someone?