There’s something so very wonderful about God’s love. It reaches beyond all the restrictions of the human mind that cause people to close doors to one another (and to Him); restrictions that cause people to go so far and no further, and for so many different reasons – status, culture, appearance, belief systems, disability, etc.
The love of God even reaches beyond the limitations we place on ourselves because of past experiences – loss, failure, hurts, etc.
I lost my mother at the age of 18 months. My sister and I were in care for almost a decade and during that time she became disabled. Although she was older than me, suddenly I had to be like the older sister and as such have been both a child and adult carer. In all those years, I had never been truly close with any `mother’ figures in my life. Growing up, I would look up to women who were part of my life from time to time, hoping to receive something special – an extra touch of love that would never go away – something that was `mine’. But circumstances meant that my connections with them were only fleeting. There would never be anything lasting. On top of that, after thinking that some of them were the most wonderful people, I would sometimes see shortcomings and would feel let down.
As the years went by and I grew up, I stopped `looking’ for that special relationship of motherly love from people. I had a wonderful and loving father who did his very best for us (my late sister and I); but dads cannot be mums. Much had happened over the years. My story is very long and I hope one day to write it.
Amongst peers, during my years at secondary school, I felt inferior. I felt that they had a confidence and assurance that I didn’t. I am thankful for having come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in my teens. On the day that I accepted Him into my life, I found a love which embraced me from deep within.
Before, I had felt I was `nothing’ but on that day, suddenly, God, the Creator of the whole universe, was my Heavenly Father! In Him I found love that caused me to hold my head up and assured me that I was `someone’ in His sight. His love reached my heart. I began to have confidence and felt a sense of purpose. I applied myself to my studies diligently, whereas before I had been unable to.
Jumping ahead in time, I am thankful to God for blessing me with a loving family (we are very close-knit). My husband and I have been married 34 years; we have 2 daughters and 2 sons, a daughter-in-law and 2 lovely grandsons. Although I never knew my mother and have missed her very much in my life, I believe that on that glorious day I shall see her face again. Throughout the many challenges of life, the older I get, the more I am appreciating the preciousness of the love of God.
I have shared just a glimpse of my story to say that nothing can hide us from God’s love. He sees beyond the exterior and meets us in that secret place of our hearts. All it takes is for us to open the door .
There’s a wonderful song from the past that I love by Andre Crouch (legendary gospel artist) entitled “Amazing Grace” in which the last line of the chorus states “He looked beyond my fault and saw my need”. No matter what our need is, or where we are, His love has no limits.
Meet Christine
Christine Mitchell is the wife of a pastor, and they have 4 grown children, a daughter-in-law and 2 young grandchildren. She is a carer, musician and poet. God has inspired her with many uplifting poems of faith to help bring encouragement, comfort and hope to others. She published her first book of poetry in January this year. She lives in London, England with her family. You can follow her on her website: www.expressionspoetry.com, her facebook or her blog: http://poetrybychristinemitchell.wordpress.com.
