by Sarah Earlene Shere, Hosanna Heralds, ©2023
(Feb. 10, 2023) — [See Part 1 of this series here.]
February 12, 1864
My Darling Girl,
When I was your age, I was given the impression that, when one fell in love, every love song and every poem would seem to have been written for you and your beloved. I was quite shocked to discover this to be untrue. More than that, I found that every song, every poem and every word on the face of the earth fell dramatically short of expressing the love I felt for him who was the beat of my heart! My beloved was the song I never knew how to write. His life was the story I never wanted to stop reading; I longed to study every paragraph, to memorize every line and to fall more deeply in love with him with every turning of the page!
There were no words sufficient enough to describe how I felt. Even the word “love” had been used so many times that it had lost its holy luster. No. What I felt was not of this world. It was supernatural, otherworldly, holy, sacred and reverent. I ached with the pain and frustration of not being able to adequately express how I felt. It was then I understood the words of Christ, spoken in the gospel of John, 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Yes! That was it! Oh, I longed to bleed for my darling, to pour out for him all that was in me till the very last ounce was drained from my being! Even that was not enough. My consolation was that I would then have the rest of eternity to continue to love him. I wondered if even that would be enough.
God comforted my soul with the promise that there was already One Who had poured out His lifeblood for my Darling. All I needed to do was trust that was more than ample, and to hold my beloved in my arms as I prayed over him. So, I rested myself there, against his side, near his heart, under his arm, in holy, reverent silence, assured that we were at home together, held by God.
Little lamb, don’t try to understand or define love. It can not be done. God is Love. Leave it at that. Trust God, Who is Perfect Love, to cast out all fear. And don’t stop holding your beloved, even when you must be apart. The spirit and soul knows neither space nor time!
As Ever, with Much Affection,
Your Friend