Sometimes love is in bedtime prayers. When you’re plumb worn out at the end of the day, but you go ahead and cuddle next to your boy anyway and stumble out some prayers. Then you let him have a turn and you watch him fold his hands and rest them on his forehead and ask God for tractors and help to grow up and be strong so he can march in a hip-parade and blow a trumpet.

Sometimes love is when your husband pitches a tent in the backyard. And he’s up for adventure and asks you to spend the night with him under stars but you’ve become this sissy britches in your old age and you like the feel of your cool sheets and you’re not getting up to go out there and be awake all night. And the two of you get in an argument the next day over whether or not you disappointed him and you both spill your guts and ask God for help to be friends again and in the end it all turns out okay.

Sometimes love is in a chat sitting in lawn chairs. And your friend tells you the most gut-wrenching thing but you’re just glad she told you and though there’s no answers,  you know the God of hope so you cling to Him together and you carry her to Him with your prayers.

And always love does loving things.  Like giving your boy the blue popsicle, because he wants the blue one and and walking your neighbor’s hugemongous dog while she’s gone, even though you’re not like real crazy about hugemongous dogs and finding yourself growing fond of the pooch who slaps your legs with her tail so hard  it hurts.

And I don’t often respond the most loving way but I know I want to spend my life loving. And I wonder if it starts with all the little things. I can choose love because I’ve been loved and daily filled up with Him, the One who first loved me.

We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:8a)

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)