” God’s love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children as they follow his Covenant ways
and remember to do whatever he said..” Psalm 103:17-18 (The Message)
As I sit here and write this, Thanksgiving has just ended and we’re heading into the Christmas season. The weather is getting colder, our thoughts are turning toward Christmas and we’re starting to enjoy snuggling and cuddling and curling up with blankets and heat. As you read this, the weather is getting warmer, we’re waking up from the long rest of winter and the hope of spring is in the air.
I’ve spoken before about what love smells like… how at the beginning of the school year my husband heard my words of “lonely” – adjusting to working in a quiet house again and how I love to turn to my comforts of coffee and candles during those long days. He surprised me with a beautiful candle that I could light whenever I wanted and every time I did, I was reminded that this is what love smells like.
Well, this weekend I’ve been experiencing what love tastes like. It started on Black Friday with my husband making sure we stopped for my favorite drink not once but a few times throughout our weekend Christmas shopping experiences. He knows that one thing I love is coffee and he made sure to speak love to me by ordering coffee several times that weekend … to fuel me up for more shopping, to help relax me when heading home with our packages and just because it’s a fun way to unwind and a special treat once in a while.
Well, our youngest decided to get in the action too and while he didn’t make me coffee, he took the time and effort to make me hot chocolate during that weekend. He heated the milk (because we like milk in our hot chocolate), measured out the hot chocolate powder, stirred it up and even remembered the marshmallows. That was the best tasting hot chocolate I’ve had ever … because it was made with love.
Isn’t that what life is about? Finding out the things that smell, taste, look and touch like love to those in our lives that we love? What kinds of random, small things can we do in order to show that love to our family, friends and even, on a different level, with strangers around our community? I sit here sipping Christmas tea while I’m typing this (a gift from another loved one who knows how much I love the Christmas tea this time of year) staying warm thinking about “Christmas cheer.” In actuality, Jesus, who came to earth as a baby at Christmas time, spread His message of love throughout the year. So whether we’re reading this in December or April or somewhere in between, the message of love is the same.
What does love taste like to those you love … and how can you bring a smile to their face and let them feel special today?
© Cheri Swalwell 2018