Love Letters

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

 

Driving east on a moderately busy street, I could barely keep my eyes on the road ahead of me. I’m distracted, and I know it. I shouldn’t be because there’s a baby nestled in her carseat behind me. My eyes are transfixed on the image in my rearview mirror. I keep looking at it, longing to hold onto it for just a little while longer. Why don’t I just pull over you might be thinking? I’m only a few minutes from home and I need to get this little girl fed and to bed. What is this intoxicating vision that’s tugging at my heart so intensely? 

 

A gorgeous sunset.

 

The entire western sky lit up with shifting peaches, pinks, and blazing orange. I’m sure you’re thinking of a few beautiful sunsets you’ve seen before right now. They are hard to put into words, aren’t they? But what was really behind the immense pull on my heart? Was it just the brilliant changing colors? 

 

It was a moment with God.

 

It was a “love letter” from Him to me. “I love you so much, I just wanted to paint this beautiful picture for you. I want to show you my creation, and show it off to you. Stay and linger. Be with me for a while.” I wanted to hold onto this moment with everything in me. All of a sudden, I wanted to see sunsets as often as I possibly could.

 

Growing up, I lived in places that were either heavily wooded, low-lying areas, or in places where there simply was not a lot of sunshine. These were also days before I knew God. He was always there of course, but I did not have a personal relationship with Jesus yet.  These were dark times in my life. Born with a sensitive nature, I struggled with sadness as a child, and battled depression as a teen and young adult. 

 

After college, two significant things happened. I moved west and gave my life to Jesus. I became a born again believer. Living out west I was suddenly in this place where the sun shines about 300 days per year, and the viewing of sunrises and sunsets over the mountains is a more easily accessible activity. The sun was now shining all around me literally, as well as in my spiritual life. 

 

Many years after my commitment to the Lord this incident with craving a nightly viewing of the sunset occurred. I would describe it as an unspoken prayer from my heart to God.

 

About a year later, we moved from that house where I had swaddled that baby girl that night and tucked her into bed. It was a short move, only about two miles north, to a larger house for our growing family of five. The home sat on a corner lot where we could see unobstructed views of the sunset each night silhouetted by the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Our first night in that new home we were able to witness a spectacular peach, pink, orange streaked sunset over those “purple mountain majesties,” as we would call them. 

 

In that moment I realized God had answered that unspoken prayer. He had given me the “desires of my heart.” A love note from Him to me. 

 

“I see you.”

“I know you.”

“I’m a good father who delights in giving good gifts to my kids.”

 

Those words of course are not just meant for me. He speaks them to you as well, and many more. What are the “love letters” He sends to you? Is it a sunset, a sunrise, the feel of fresh green grass between your toes, the chirping of a bird, or maybe the stillness of snow falling outside your window while you are curled up by the fireplace? I have a friend who sees a certain number and knows God is speaking to her because it corresponds to a special verse of scripture. God is so good, and lavishes His love on His children in such creative ways. If you’re not sure what your “love letters” are, ask Him. He’ll be happy to show you.

 

Even though I have since moved again, I still have a sunset view from my home. I always pause to watch His sunsets, and “read” His love letter to me. Even if something else is calling my attention, which is most often the case, I watch His sunsets and say, “Thank you. That’s beautiful, Daddy. I love you too.”