The Father's Love

I have rediscovered a love I forgot existed.

Father, you are the artist of nostalgia. It is You who reopens the wound of a heart that longs for rest, a heart that longs to be filled; it is You who reminds us of the radiant joy, love, and peace of a distant past; it is You who awakens the heart to a warm, dream-like memory which peaks out from beneath the sands of time. It is You who calls us in these moments of longing.

You are the joy, love, and peace we remember vaguely from long ago. You are the love we felt as children, young, pure, with hearts wide open.

You were the breeze and the shade, and the clear blue skies on that simple sunny day. I was four, thoughtless and carefree. All I knew was peace; and though I was unaware, I knew You. Though I could not see You, You were seated beside me underneath the pear tree. In my earliest memories, You were there.

I remember You.

You are the love I’ve searched for, high and low, far and wide. I’ve scoured every end of the earth, only to find You were right beside me all along.

The only reason I know this is because I’ve opened my heart to receive it all from You. You are the source of all that is good. You are the one true God: You are love; You are joy; You are peace—and I love You with all my heart.

All praise and all glory and all honor are Yours, now and forever.

Amen.