March is a more difficult month than the rest for Stacey and I.

It’s been 9 years since our son died. One of the many things grief has taught us is that the depth of our love for Jake is matched by the depth of our grief.

Love embraces the soul. Jake was a lover and a hugger and he grabbed many hearts in his 22 years with us. We miss his hugs.

Love grabs our emotions but true love is not just sensual it’s spiritual and active. God is Spirit and God is love and his love is directed towards mankind. His love embraces our souls.

This might be the hardest thing about grieving our son. There is no action that our love for him can be personally demonstrated towards him.

I often ask Jesus to tell Jake that I love him and to embrace him for me. I believe that prayer is heard.

We all need love. Not the kind of love that much of the world offers. A fickle love, a conditional love, a sensual self serving love.

We want a love that transcends all of that and embraces our souls never letting go. A love that loves us in all our ugliness.

This is how God loves and how we are called to love one another.

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Many spurn this love. But for those who have not how are we to return our love for God?

“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. John 14:23

Jesus said to love each other as he loved. Obedience to this commandment is the demonstration of love and the sweet embrace of fellowship with the Trinity.

Let us love God and one another.