"Let me know if there's anything I can do to Love you better."
That's not something that's said often in our society. Most people just assume if they Love you that it's enough. That you know it. That they show it the way they need to.
To be honest, I've only heard it once. And I've only said it a few times myself. I've heard plenty of things that essentially mean that, but only one person has ever communicated that directly to me.
One of my really good friends had written that in the letter she gave me on my birthday. When I read it, I was surprised. You see, this particular friend is one of my really good friends for a reason (actually multiple reasons, but one in particular). That reason is that she Loves me. Really well. And she knows that I know that. So when I read that, I didn't think I would ever give her an answer. Eventually, I did give her an answer. Since then, she has continued to do her best to Love me. She's even made it clear that if I ever have another answer, I can tell her.
All of that happened in September and October. But what's cool is that God is still using it. And not just in my relationship with that friend.
Last week, I realized that I wasn't feeling God's Love the way I needed to. It wasn't that He doesn't Love me. I know that He does. And I know He Loves me better than anyone else ever could. He shows it all the time. But I still wanted to feel it more. So I did something I've only done once before.
I said what I need to feel Loved.
I asked God to give me more affirmation. And God did what He always does. He answered me. And as always, went beyond what I imagined.
That same night, He reminded me that He calls me His "treasure" and His "bride."
The next night when people from my campus ministry met for prayer, He said something I had been wanting to hear from someone, anyone for several weeks. He told me (through a friend) that He is proud of me.
The night after that was great too. My dad used to say all the time, "You're valuable and precious to me." I can't remember the last time I heard that statement. For some reason, it's something I remembered a few months ago and have missed since then. But during worship that night God told me that I am "valuable and precious" to Him. And it meant more to me than it ever has before.
Then, the other day, I asked God what it would look like or sound like if He wrote me a "love letter." It just seemed like He said, "Why don't you find out?" That's what I did earlier today. I sat there and listened to what God had to say to me and wrote it in my journal in the form of a letter. The words were tender. They were those of both a father and a lover. To say the very least, I feel Loved. And Loved well.
My mentor likes to say that our relationships with other people are meant to teach us about our relationship with God. And I'm always learning how true that is. Had God not blessed me with a friend so eager to show Love, so willing to learn how she can Love better, I might not have even thought to ask God to show me His Love in a way that I would understand it better. I might not have learned to stop and accept His Love. And that was something else He reminded me of last week - that He is always showing me His Love, even in the friends that He gives me.
And now I'm excited to see how He continues to show me Love. Just like I'm always excited to see how my good friends are going to show me Love.
So, here's a suggestion. Tell God what you need to feel Loved. Of course He already knows, but He wants to hear it. And once you tell Him, don't forget to stop and listen. Don't forget to take notice when He's trying to make you feel Loved. Let Him Love you as well as He truly does.
