Be Mine by Marcia Lee Laycock
I ripped the cellophane wrapping off the small package with delight. The cards my mother had bought that morning were perfect. They were bright red with hearts all over them and short funny sayings appropriate for Valentine’s Day. I spent all that evening addressing the envelopes and signing my name to all the cards. All, that is, but one.
There was one card in the package that was larger than the rest. It said, “Be Mine,” and the verse inside was not funny. In fact, to me, it was so serious that my heart beat faster. This card was going to someone I thought was deserving of something so special. His name was Darryl. I was ten years old and I was “in love.”
I did not sign my name to the card addressed to Darryl because I was afraid. I did not want to admit my feelings for fear of being rejected. What if he just laughed? What if he threw the card in the trash and someone else saw that it was from me? What if he left it behind on an empty desk for anyone to see? No. I would not put my name on that card, but I would pray that Darryl would know who it was from.
Giving your love and affection to someone is a risk. You become vulnerable to being hurt, to rejection, perhaps even to ridicule. Jesus knew all about that when He agreed to be born as a tiny babe on earth. He knew that many would spurn His love. Many would scorn his affection. Many would just laugh. And then a mob would demand His death. No one would understand. None of it would look like a fairy-tale and the ending was anything but happy. It would look like defeat and it would stink of death.
But it was the greatest act of love this world has ever seen. Christ gave up the glories of heaven, took on the physical limitations of a human body and then allowed that body to be tortured and killed. He did it all so that we would be able to live in the presence of His Father’s love eternally. He did it with an anguished cry of, “Be Mine!”
Jesus was
neither afraid nor embarrassed to sign his name on the card that revealed His
love for us. His card was a cross erected on a hill outside the city of
It was therefore true when the apostle Paul said to the people in Rome – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, NIV)
That is a Valentine worth cherishing.
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Thank you for taking the time to read. My name is Marcia Lee Laycock and I invite you to follow me if you’d like to read more of my work about finding your way home, into the arms of Jesus. 😊 You can find me on Medium at Pond’rings and Words on the Wing and a few other publications along the way.
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Dear Marcia, your opening brought me back to grade school on a chilly Valentine's Day where hearts were warm with hope someone special would send them the biggest card in the box.
ReplyDeleteSomeone did. Jesus. Thank you for this beautiful reminder. <3
Valentine Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
Thanks for responding, Wendy. Glad it was a joy to you. :)
ReplyDeleteI think most of us can relate to this childhood story, Marcia. I also appreciate the way you so skillfully took us to the cross and what Jesus did. It's probably the makings of a devotional for another one of your collections! (If it isn't already.)
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of when Mrs. Mael, my favourite teacher, gave us all cinnamon hearts. I love those, even though there wasn't a grain of cinnamon in them. She truly loved us kids and we loved her back. Children can tell if some adult loves them or despises them. Let's all be childlike when it comes to our Lord and Master. Let's make up for all the hatred he experienced and still receives from this wicked world.
ReplyDeleteA lovely post, Marcia. I particularly liked the way you said, "Giving your love and affection to someone is a risk" and then transitioned into the rejection Jesus suffered to give His love to and for us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, Marcia. Your opening paragraph made my own memories of school days and Valentine's Day swoop in on the crinkly cellophane. And we know all about saving the big Valentine for someone special and hoping one comes back to us. Loved thinking about Jesus being the greatest Valentine of all. "But it was the greatest act of love this world has ever seen." Oh yes! Thanks, Marcia.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of decorating shoeboxes with red tissue paper and lacy white paper hearts and awkwardly cutting a slit in the lid of the box. Thanks to Jesus, every moment of every day and thanks to you Marcia for sharing this post.
ReplyDelete