“the Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.”   john 3:35

“for God so loved the world that He gave His only son…”   john 3:16

i was almost asleep the other night when my husband turned to me and whispered softly, “thank you for the way you love my son.”  there are few words he could speak into my soul that would mean more.

my relationship with jared has grown very sweetly over this first year.  laughter, not taking things personally, giving space to adjust, celebrating his accomplishments, recognizing his talents, welcoming his friends into our home, pestering, lots of hugging, simple things like doing his laundry.

i listen to his opinions, ask for his thoughts.  he named my puppy at christmas.

he’s growing into quite the young man.  he holds the door for me, says thank you for the things i do, lets me in on jokes. together we rag his dad, do the yardwork, and figure out ways to get his chores done so he can have the most free time.  scheduling events that do not interfere with time at his mom’s house; encouraging and respecting that relationship as highly  valuable.

these things mean a lot to him.

this past week i redecorated his room with colors he picked out and painted a faux finish on his walls he first saw in a restaurant.  i spent several days getting it just right.  he came home from camp last night.   he loves it.

during the hours i spent on jared’s room, i thought about those words tim whispered into my ear.  and i wondered:  does God look at me and say the same words about His Son?  is there anything in my walk that would cause Him to thank me for loving His Son?  and if so, what?

Jesus said if we love Him we will obey Him.  obey what?  obey His commands.  what are His commands?  as i search the scriptures i find them spelled out clearly:

-love God

-love my neighbor (and husband)

-love myself

-love my enemies

-feed the hungry – spiritually as well as on a practical level

-give living water to the thirsty

-go to the sick

-visit those in prison

-go out into my “world” and preach the gospel

-be and make disciples of Jesus

we love our families.  we brag on them.  we love our friends.  we spend time with them.  we love our churches.  we invite others to services and events.  but inviting someone to church is not the same as telling them about God’s Son and what He offers.  it’s just not.

it’s out of relationship with jared that i love him.  and it will be out of relationship with Jesus – prayer, fellowship, reading His words – that i will love Him.

and so i find myself looking at the way i live, the words that i speak, the way i spend my money and my time.  and i’m asking myself if those precious words i heard from my husband are words that my God would speak over me.

i sure want them to be.