I didn't think I could love anything more.
The doctor laid him in my arms, and a sudden implosion of emotion happened. A love greater than anything I'd ever felt before. How was this possible? I felt this same emotion with my first son and then, fifteen months later, with my second, yet the emotion was so different.
Cameron was born on November 21. It was always a tradition to put up the Christmas tree on Thanksgiving, so his brother and I went to work when I got home from the hospital. We hardly had any money, so the decorations were sparse, and since Chase was only knee-high to a cricket, most of the decorations were at the bottom of the tree. It didn't matter. Each Christmas ball landed in the perfect spot. The night closed in, and I pulled my boys close to me and watched as the lights flickered on the tree. I kissed their heads and whispered, "I love you with my heart, soul, and mind.
It was the perfect Christmas.
As I've found my way into my mid-sixties, each time I put up my Christmas tree, that early Christmas with both my babies comes to mind, and the warmth of the love I felt returns. It's incredible gazing at my tree now, at how so much has changed. My tree now rotates and overflows with ornaments that bear deep meaning. Age has brought the realization of just how much God loves me.
Jesus told the people to love God with all their hearts, souls, and minds, but I can't help but flip that to see how much He loves me. The Father loved me—us—enough with His entire heart, soul, and mind to send His son to die on our behalf. How could I not return the favor and return it stronger?
Christmas is more than packages. It's the sincere gift of God's love, sent to us in the form of a baby—the sacrificial lamb. Before you open one package this Christmas day, tell God you love Him with your entire heart, soul, and mind. Remember how much He loves you and what He sacrificed so you might have that continued love. Love the Lord God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, for He loves you even more.
How can you demonstrate your love for God this Christmas?
(photo courtesy of pixabay and blankita_ua.)
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Cindy K. Sproles is a best-selling, award-winning author. She is a speaker and a conference teacher who teaches nationwide. Cindy is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries, www.christiandevotions.us, and www.inspireafire.com. She serves as a writing mentor with WRAMS (Writing Write Author Mentoring Service) and is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com.