The Christmas Bowl (08/07/2024)

Recently, my husband came home from “errands” carrying something. I watched as he set a bowl beautifully decorated with holly and ribbon on the counter. I looked at it. It was Lenox which I collect. I told him it was beautiful. He smiled, then he asked me if I had one like it. I responded that I didn’t. He smiled again and said, “I got it for you.” I thanked him sincerely and asked where he’d gotten it. He told me at an estate sale. The bowl is beautiful, and I will make a point of using it this Christmas, and every time I use it, I will remember the smile he wore when he gave it to me and how his thoughtfulness made me feel.

Love isn’t all chocolates and roses. It comes to us in various ways. And when it comes to us in a way that says, “I know you,” it is especially precious. Don’t we all long to be known. And don’t we all desire to be thought of even we are not present.

The moment, as I unpacked it in prayerful reflection, brought me to a greater appreciation for and love of the LORD who knows me, who sees me, who loves me even when I have strayed and am not present. The moment also challenged me to pay better attention to others, to come to really know them and to carry my love for them with me regardless of where I am.

The most profound lessons in life, I have found, were not learned in a classroom. I have learned them along the way, watching others, listening to others, seeing the LORD at work through others. The LORD is with us every step of the way. Often, the LORD reaches out to us with wisdom through another’s words or with love through another’s actions.

As we journey in faith, hope and love, let us open ourselves to the goodness and uniqueness of each of our companions who populate our journeys. Let us come to know them and their goodness and their uniqueness. Let us see their gifts and recognize their needs. And let us see within them our creator, our all-present and all-loving LORD. Let us seek to love our LORD with our whole strength and to love those whom He’s brought to our journey by coming to see them and to know them.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.