Getting my brother EJ to bed as a child was quite the struggle for my mother. He was afraid of everything; emphasis on the word
everything. He would see shadows in his room, swear the trees had eyes, stare at his pillow suspiciously…the boy had some nightfall issues.
One way to get him into his room and tucked away for the night was to allow him to sleep at the foot of his doorway. The hall light would be enough to assure him that any monsters creeping in the darkness would not be able to devour him while he was fast asleep dreaming.
Often, I too, would join him on the floor of the doorway. My room was across the hall from his and together we would lay with our heads sticking out of our doors, hall light beaming and giggles quietly being stifled into our fluffy pillows.
To this day I remember how much fun I thought those moments were. What was a comfort to EJ’s terror filled nights was just plain fun to me! It was like he and I were having a sleep over in the hallway. I loved him for it.
Many nights after he had fallen asleep I would sneak out a book to read (the glow of the hallway offering the perfect recipe for night vision) and I would think about love.
I had this coloring book that had pictures of Christ and the events of His miraculous life here on earth. I assume there were pages of miracles to be colored in such as Jesus asleep on the boat of panicking disciples, finally awaking and calming the storm with the simple sound of His commanding voice.
I am sure that the bread and fish multiplication miracle was also a part of that coloring book. Perhaps the shriveled up olive tree.
I am assuming those things because I remember only one page; the page that I would look at time and time again. The only coloring book outline that I know was in that little, dinky, beat up book:
The picture of my Christ nailed to the cross, a crown of thorns upon his head, anguish on his face, his bare upper body so fragile and torn, his life given up for me.
I wonder who thought that was a nice coloring book page. Interesting choice to me. But if the creator of that art book had a mission to relay the love of Christ and the power of His sacrifice for each of us – then job well done.
That art book gave me my first lesson in love.
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
(1 John 4:9)
I remember my small tears streaming down my face. I remember the awe and honor I felt at the privilege of being called a child of God. The joy of a life centered on Christ’s redeeming love for me.
And I remember looking over at EJ’s room and thinking that if Christ so loved me enough to die – if that was His proof of love for us – then if I ever had to prove to my brother how much I loved him I would have gladly given up breath here on earth to make it known.
Because I knew what it felt like to stare at this Savior of the world and feel His love for me.
I so wanted EJ to feel a love like that as well.
There is something about Christ that is contagious. When you know Him, you want everyone else to know him as well. And I am not talking about the diminutive Jesus with children sitting on his lap, feeding a lamb, with an innocent smile upon his face.
I am talking about
the all-powerful, death defying, grave smashing, oceans-that-are-obeying, stones- that- are -praising Jesus.
I wonder if you know Him?
I wonder if His love for you is urging you on to love others the same way? I wonder under the cover of nighttime, in the cove of hidden doorways, what you are feeling? Do you feel a heart wrenching love; the kind of love that is a struggle to contain deep inside? An overflow of willingness to lay down your own life just to point to the cause of Christ?
Is it a John 15:13 night for you?
“Greater love has no one than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.”
We are not all called to die for our friends. I hope we are clear on that. If for every moment of overwhelming love we were asked to die for the person of our affection than surely I would have been dead years ago. Though martyrdom may not be our call don’t you ever forget that it was the call of Christ Jesus!
His life laid down for us.
Again read,
“Greater love has no one than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.”He did that for you.
And do you know why? So that when the sun sets and it is time for you to go to bed, you can rest in the peace of His light. No doorway bunk beds needed. No fear that cannot be conquered. Christ has proven His love for you and He has called you friend! Rest in His love for you.
Who knew a coloring book could teach us so much?
