Love Notes (plus a free download!)

My daughter, who turned six last fall, is in love with love.
 
Love notes are her latest obsession. If she’s not playing with dolls or riding on her scooter, you can most often find her in the study where she sits at her white desk carefully cutting and folding. Then, with great focus, she practices her very best Kindergarten handwriting…
 
“I love you so much because you are so nice.”
“I love you mom and dad. From Bethany.”
“You’re sick. I’m so sorry for you.” (My favorite.)

 At this point, her love notes grace nearly every room of our home. She lavishes her love on every resident, even down to the smallest pet— my sister’s cat (who, unfortunately, doesn’t return the sentiment).
 
Everywhere I turn, little red hearts and those three simple words remind me how my daughter feels about me, her Mama. Y’all most days I feel like I’m failing, and yet she is enamored.
 
My printer paper stash is empty, but my heart is full.
 
The truth is, friends, whether married, single, or “it’s complicated,” we all have a not-so-secret Admirer this Valentine’s Day. 

Now, you’re probably thinking, I know where this is going, as you hover over your browser’s back button. But if that’s you, I dare you to hear me out…
 
You see,  I’m the kind of girl who grew up wondering if she was noticed. I’m the kind of girl who grew up wondering how God felt about her. And I’m the kind of girl who grew up wondering if she was even worthy of taking up space on this earth.
 
And now I can’t help but wonder if you are the kind of gal who wonders the same things?
 
Even though I went to church, served God with all my energy, and said I believed He loved me, deep down I felt that love was contingent on me doing everything perfectly.
 

• I read my Bible and only saw a never-ending list of areas I was falling short, and completely missed the love notes God had tucked within the pages. 

• I shrugged off the encouragement He sent through friends, and took for granted the gifts he left at my doorstep. 
  

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• I looked right past a thousand sunrises He painted with me in mind, and dubbed what could only be His intervention as “coincidences.”

I look back now and I ask, “How could you miss it? How could you miss God’s love?” Only in looking back can I see it so clearly.
 
I realize I missed it then—and still miss it even now, at times--for the same reasons I miss my daughter’s love notes even though they’re right in front of my face…
 
Mainly: busyness, pride, and shame.
 
There’s nothing new under the sun. If we open our Bibles to the New Testament we see story after story of people who missed God’s greatest Love Note, Jesus, for the very same reasons…
 
Any of us would give our left arm to sit at the physical feet of Jesus for two minutes, but Martha missed her opportunity because she was preoccupied serving.
 
The Pharisees were so offended by Jesus they couldn’t see He was the very Savior for which they were waiting.
 
The Samaritan woman almost skipped out on a life-altering conversation with the Son of God, because of the labels she had allowed to define her.
 
It’s crazy to think we have an Admirer whose love for us never wavers— not once— nor will it ever go away. But at some point or another, we all become blinded to the love notes that are right in front of our face.
 
What is it that is blinding you, today— busyness? Pride? Shame?
 
I ask not to point a finger, but to pull you in close and whisper these words of hope: just because you can’t see or feel it right now doesn’t mean His love has gone away.
 
James 4:8 makes it clear that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. It makes me think of Jesus’ description of the Prodigal’s father who sees His son “a long way off” and begins running toward him.
 
Regardless of whether you’ve been trying to do life on your own, or hiding in shame, or if you’ve simply stuffed your life with distractions, the Father is moved with compassion when He sees us moving in His direction.
 
Your desire for the Father’s love could never surpass His desire to give it.
 
A year ago I began praying this simple prayer, that became a catalyst to greater intimacy with Jesus, a greater revelation of His love for me: 
 
“Lord, I want to know You more. Open my eyes to see.”
 
If you find yourself feeling weary, worthless, or wandering today, let that be your prayer. (By the way, His answer to this prayer is always yes.)

Friend, His love notes are all around us. There’s no mistaking His affections. He is enamored. With you. With me. And not because we’ve done anything to earn it, but simply because we are His.
 
The truth is He could fill an entire house with love notes to us, and never run out of words because love isn’t just what He does, it’s who He is. 

​May He open your eyes to see, and may you be filled to the brim with His love this Valentine’s Day.
 
With Love,

P.S.  No matter how long you've been a Christian, we all need reminders of God's love for us. God's love energizes us, gives us confidence, and calls us home when we are lost.

I created a FREE download for you this week— "love notes" filled with scripture to help you meditate on God's love. Simply print, cut, and place around your house for ongoing encouragement! Click below for an instant download, no strings attached.