Even after all these years, the glimpses of love I’m able to spy with my little eye always leave me feeling some sort of way. And it doesn’t matter if it’s part of the annual Love Leaves Glimpses Challenge or not.
The glimpses of love that show up as heart-shaped leaves (and other heart-shaped things) are a lot like old friends. No matter how long it’s been since we last touched base, we pick up right where we left off as if no time has passed. In a similar way, that prayer for eyes to see so many years ago was answered with that first heart-shaped leaf I noticed. Every single glimpse that’s followed reminds me of God’s faithfulness to hear and answer prayer. He did it then, and he’ll do it again.
Additional feelings are brought up when they show up as things other than the cutesy heart-shaped variety. The glimpses of love discovered during seasons of difficulty also remind me of old friends, but in a different way. These start off as reluctant acquaintances kept at a distance. Unsure of what their intentions are because of how difficult the glimpse of love is to see, it takes some time before I let my guard down enough to actually consider them friends.
Old friends share a lot of history, and not all of it’s good. There’s hurt and pain and heartache. Stories of misunderstanding and conflict are the refining fires that forge a friendship they’d never get to experience otherwise. A friendship that earns them the privilege of walking alongside one another through some of their darkest days.
Still seeing only in part, the veil thins just a little, revealing a God who meets me in the midst of the struggle, shining light in and through my darkest days. The One who is my strength in weakness. A strength quite literally born to be weakness on my behalf.
The epitome of faithful friendship, and the glimpse of Love that has given me eyes to see all others. Jesus.
He did it then, he’ll do it again.
Until next time,
Becky
a few more words…
Thank you to all who shared their glimpses of love with me this past month. These messages never get old, so keep them coming!
A couple born from our most recent love leaves glimpses challenge:
I can’t think of anything better to commemorate the love leaf anniversary than this glimpse I caught on August 23rd, eleven years to the day it all started. An a/c leak turned into this. My husband is a daily glimpse of love for me, tried and true in seeing me through the darkest days of my life. Both the a/c broken kind of dark days, and the more serious less first world problem kind. And he’s wearing standard heart color red, making it a win-win for this shot.
Speaking of old friends, a dear one of those texted me this glimpse. I’ve seen heart-shaped food before, but never like this! The Spider-Man plate makes it another win-win. Love really does leave glimpses in the most unexpected ways.