Years ago my husband and I were alone at our cottage one hot summer day. I was busy dusting the furniture in the living room when I heard the screen door slam shut. Looking up, I was amazed to see two of my children standing there with huge grins on their faces.
My son had driven a couple of hours to deliver some papers to an office nearby. Since my daughter had the day off, she had accompanied him. As soon as he had completed his errand, he drove down the highway and parked the truck. Then they hiked about six miles through the woods to the cottage. They intended to walk briskly, but swarms of black flies encouraged them to run instead.
As he sat on the chesterfield, my son calmly peeled off his sunburned skin. They enthusiastically told me about their adventures. How they wanted to surprise their Dad and me! It was a surprise. It occurred to me that I was witnessing love in action. Our children were willing to walk a long way and brave the black flies in order to see us. At first they followed a well marked trail until they came to a narrow path that wound through tall grass. Then they ran through the woods and down a hill to the cottage.
In a far greater way, Jesus left heaven and came to earth because he loves us so much. His love is wider than the ocean, higher than the heaven above, and deeper than the deepest sea. As a child I sang the chorus, “Wide, wide as the ocean, high as the heaven above; deep, deep as the deepest sea, is my Savior’s love.” Paul prayed that the Ephesian Christians would grasp “how wide and how long and high and deep is the love of Christ’ (Eph. 3:18).
My children showed their love for their parents when they hiked a long distance. By his actions Jesus demonstrates that his love cannot be measured. The human mind cannot comprehend why God would become a man and die on a cross for sinners. May you know this love that surpasses knowledge.
