Love, love, love
Mother and baby continuous one outline vector art drawing. Line_Art_King. www.freepik.com
Today at church, an elder* led the prayer. He started by saying he had a prayer all written and ready, but it seemed like God was prompting him to change it, which he did. It was Valentine’s Day the day before, he and his wife had watched a “love movie” the night before, and he kept seeing love all over. He said it seemed like he kept hearing about love—”Love, love, love.”
His new prayer began with him telling God (and us) how he loved his wife so much he didn’t see how he could love anyone else as much. Then his first child was born, and he couldn’t believe how much he loved her. He would hold her, “kiss her forehead and say, ‘I love you so much. I have loved you forever and I will love you forever, no matter what.’” He thought he could never love another child as much as this one. Then, his second child was born and, as he put him in his crib, he would “kiss his forehead and say, ‘I love you so much. I have loved you forever and I will love you forever, no matter what.’” Then his third child was born. Same. He went on to praise God for loving each of us like that—thanking God for having loved us forever and continuing to love us forever, no matter what.
Before he started the prayer, he told us he was going to ask us to do something “unconventional.” He had us hold hands with the people beside us.
My church is Christian Reformed. It is in the Calvinist tradition, following many of the doctrines set out by the Reformer John Calvin. It flourished in the Netherlands and began in the US as a Dutch immigrant church. You know how sometimes Northern European churches laughingly call themselves the “frozen chosen?” We do, too. The denomination has grown more diverse now, and less “frozen.” Yet, it is unconventional indeed in many congregations to hold up your hands, to do any kind of call and response, or anything of a spontaneous nature. When I was growing up, it was considered inappropriate behavior to clap in church. I don’t mean to dis my church. I love a liturgical, respectful, quiet service. I am telling you this to point out how unusual it was for us to hold hands, and also for the elder leading the prayer to be as open and vulnerable as he was.
It was awesome. It made me cry. I remember saying the same thing to my friends when I was pregnant with my second child—I was worried I could not love another child as much as I loved my first. But, miracle of miracles, God multiplied my love. I did not have to divide my love between my children, husband, and other loved ones. My love was multiplied. Whether we are talking about love from or to a family member, friend, or anyone else, our love need not be divided to include more; it is multiplied.
I think that multiplied love we experience is an echo, maybe call it a reflection, a dim image of God’s love for you. For me. For us.
* In the Christian Reformed Church (and others), elders and deacons along with the pastor make up what is called the Council, a sort of leadership board. Elders are mainly overseers of the congregation’s spiritual life and deacons the material aspects.