The greatest of these is Love

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." --
Ephesians 2:14-19

Oh how I wish I had heard this verse five Christmases ago...

Christmas 2004 was the worst of my life, for you see, I was living a worldly life of sin and paying the price. I had been involved with a married man for over a year, believing he would leave his wife and we would live happily ever after. I loved him with all of my heart. He gave me the attention I had always longed for. I believed he loved me more than anyone had ever loved me.

In early December of that year, my world came crashing down. His wife had found out about us and he had chosen to stay with her. He told me it was over. Broken hearted doesn't begin to explain the feelings I had hearing those words. In all my life I had never suffered that kind of heartbreak. It was suffocating. How could he do this to me, I gave him everything.

That Christmas, my children spending it with their father, I found myself alone for the first time in my life. Waking up alone Christmas morning was torture. The house deftly silent. There was no joy. I cried and I actually prayed that God would change his mind and he would miraculously show up at my door. I think about that prayer and think Jesus must have been shaking his head and saying that poor girl, if she would only truly turn to me, I would give her peace.

But I didn't. By that night Christmas night I was out with friends in a bar, drinking away the pain and flirting with the next guy in my long list. Unfortunately, not even the sinful devastation of that experience turned my heart to God. It took four and a half more years of loneliness and sin before I finally realized what I was missing all along....the love of Christ. A love which would never forsake nor disappoint.

This Christmas is the happiest I have ever celebrated. Not because we have a lot of gifts or decorations, it isn't in the material. No, this Christmas I have received for the first time the true gift of Christmas, the love of Jesus Christ. I no longer look for love in others, because God has filled me to the measure with his abounding love. Sure, I love my family more than words could express, but the love of God is even greater than that and makes this Christmas and the love I have for them the richest of my life.

I am sad for the Christmases lost, but I know God saved me in his time, so I could use all of my experiences for His good. I hope sharing this very personal story will help someone out there realize the love they are searching for is the free gift of God. It is right there for the taking, open the bible and drink it up!!

Merry Christmas to all. I love you.

"Lord, thank you for your love, a love which has no measure and has no cost other than faith in you. Help me to pour that love out on others so they too may know the peace and joy that comes from loving you. Amen."