No Matter What

I recently spent some time with two very old dogs: Daisy and Rudy. These scruffy pups spend their days napping until 3pm, at which point in time they go for a walk through the forest. This particular forest stretches on for miles and miles. It's easy to get lost in thought and lost in direction. On one of Daisy, Rudy, and I's adventures through the woods a few simple words dropped into my mind.

I love you no matter what.

No matter why.

No matter when.

No matter where.

No matter who.

No matter how.

I love you no matter what.

I knew it was the Holy Spirit who dropped these words in my mind. 

A lot of us spend our lives on the defense- trying to guard our hearts from time and space. Trying to stay away from the things that are painful and straining to control the things that aren't; only forgiving when we feel it's been earned. Yet, that is not the way the Lord handles his heart.

He is always in love with us, no matter how far we've wandered.

He forgives us when we hurt him because he'd rather be close than mad.

He doesn't need us, but he longs to include us in what he's doing.

He isn't a control freak, he'd rather be trusting.

Take a breathe and let that wash over you. He loves you no matter what. Past. Present. Future. He loves you no matter what. No matter why. When. Where. Who. How. If. 

We need this kind of love. Love that is sustaining. Love that forgives (because humans are messy). Love that trusts. Love that knows the core of who we are beyond the current state of our lives. Love that sees potential and not problems. I want to become this kind of love.