By Judie Brown
Having lost my husband Paul in late 2021 after a complicated set of conditions, including emphysema, I really felt moved by this quote from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians:
I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me because of the abundance of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
There is so much in this quote that applies personally to the trials my husband endured. He did so with patience, and sometimes with anger. But through it all he experienced a renewal of his faith. No doubt it was that personal experience that aided him through the final days of his life on this earth.
The truth is that God is always in the life of every person, though sometimes He has to wait a long time for His child to realize that He is there and always has been.
God’s love is the peace every person needs in times of woe, not to mention at every time in her life, whether joyful or otherwise.
But regardless of how the encounter with His love takes place, when the heart is open to receive Him, the Lord is always there. It is exactly as shown in the beautiful painting depicting Christ knocking at the door. He wishes to enter the heart of every person, but we are the ones who must welcome Him in.
Blessed then is the man at whose door Christ stands and knocks. Our door is faith; if it is strong enough, the whole house is safe. This is the door by which Christ enters. So the Church says in the Song of Songs: The voice of my brother is at the door. Hear his knock, listen to him asking to enter: Open to me, my sister, my betrothed, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is covered with dew, and my hair with the moisture of the night.
What better reminder could there be on this Valentine’s Day than that of Christ knocking? I know from personal experience that when He knocked, Paul ultimately opened the door, welcomed Christ into His heart, and breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, after wandering in the desert of disbelief, he embraced the one who loved him more than anyone ever could.
The love of God is like that, and as we know, God never gives up on anyone. The lost sheep is never lost to His love.
Thus, we are grateful for the love of God every day, including Valentine’s Day.