Forever and Always...

Many of you may be familiar with these words from a well-known children's book...

I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always

As long as I'm living

My baby you'll be

(by Robert Munsch, Love You Forever)

I happen to own the book. I've read it many-a-times to my own children. It's a story of a mother's love for her growing son. He grows into a man and eventually the tables are turned as he rocks his aging mother repeating the words he continually heard her say, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my Mommy you'll be."

It stings to think that we never had the chance to read this book, nor any other children's books, to our babies in heaven. It hurts to know that they will never be able to call us Mommy. It pains me even still to ponder the oh so brief lives they had. Despite the lack of time, the love runs deep. Forever and Always. The familiar words to this book, coupled with an encounter I had over the weekend truly spoke to me.

This weekend, my husband and I had the amazing blessing of being able to attend a marriage conference put on by a network of three churches, including our own. The featured speaker and his wife are celebrating 50 years of marriage together this year. Forever and Always. Together, they shared a bit of their journey with the approximately 100 couples in attendance. They talked about God's sovereign hand in their lives to bring them together as one, as well as the ministry they share as a Pastor and pastor's wife. Carol, a sweet woman with a fragile voice, but so much gusto was absolutely captivating. She was one of those people who you can just look at and see Jesus. I mean really see Him as He shines through her. She said two things that stood out to me as she gave a bit of background about her family; 1) She has 4 grandchildren and one in heaven, and 2) Her first child is in heaven. Forever and Always. She didn't forget. Neither will I. Neither will you.

Here stood a 70-year-old woman who chose to acknowledge her own baby in heaven. A baby who had gone there nearly 50 years before. Forever and Always. She stood before us with a light in her eyes and a loving glow as she also chose to share that she has a grandchild in heaven too. Forever and Always. That's what a mother's love is, no matter how brief the time she had with her child. As a Mommy to three babies in heaven, my heart can cry for them the same words I've read over and over to my living children...

I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always

As long as I'm living

My baby you'll be

Forever and Always.

The same is true for God's love. It's Forever and Always and so much more! To try to sum up the vast measure of God's love for His children is impossible for our human minds to comprehend. Yet with God's love, there too is a book that gives us a very clear picture. His Word, the Bible. From Scripture we know that God's love...

...endures forever (Psalm 136:26)

...is unfailing (Psalm 52:8)

...brings salvation for the world (John 3:16)

...cannot be taken from us who are in Christ (Romans 8:39)

...is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4)

...surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:19)

...God Himself is love (1 John 4:8)

...is full of grace, encouragement and hope (2 Thessalonians 2:16)

...is sacrificial (1 John 4:9-10)

God's love. Forever and Always and so much more amazing than we can fathom.

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

1 John 3:1