Just
Because
By Karen D’Amore
“Dear children,
let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our
actions.”
1 John 3:18
(NLT)
It was an ordinary day: not a
holiday, anniversary, birthday or any other special occasion. I entered my
vehicle to leave for work and found a card taped to the steering wheel. The
unexpected sentiment was left by my husband…just
because! It’s not the first time
he’s left something in my vehicle, taped to the bathroom mirror, or in my
suitcase when I’m traveling. These unexpected expressions of love have always
impelled me to ask, “What prompted this?” To which he always replies, “Just because!” Something always draws me to believe that
these random expressions of love must be contingent upon something I’ve done!
I doubt that my husband even realizes
how much those “just because,” unexpected displays of love warm my heart. Knowing
that his actions are spurred by heartfelt emotion versus being dictated by a
date on the calendar fills my love tank to overflowing! And I love that he always
leaves these surprises someplace for me to find in his absence, allowing me to
carry that piece of him with me when we’re apart.
As my relationship with Christ grows
more personal and intimate, I’ve become more aware of His perpetual “just because” personalized expressions of love. Knowing
best how to fill my love tank, God expresses His “just because” love for me…through
the beauty, complexity and creativity of His creations. “For
since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and
divine nature have been clearly seen…” (Romans 1:20a, NASB) Cognizant of how powerfully
nature touches my heart and soul, God becomes visible to me through His
creations.
Every time I gaze upon a masterfully
brilliant sunrise or sunset, I see the signature… Love, God woven into the tapestry of His hand-painted
sky. When He nudges me to look out the window, just in time, to catch a glimpse
of a grazing deer, my heart hears Him whisper…Love, God. With each expression
engraved in my memory, an invisible God becomes visible through His signature, Love, God.
Scripture assures us that God’s love
is NOT contingent upon anything we’ve done.
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while
we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8, NLT). This powerful display of “just because” love stretches
beyond human comprehension. And to think that, still today, as undeserving
sinners, God longs for us to experience His personal expressions of love…
…just
because!
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
Watch for God’s love notes!
FURTHER
READING:
Married to Dan,
Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns
Salon and a Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility.
