40 Days of Love | Day Two | The First Day

I remember the first day I met my new brother. Veteran's Day 1977. Mom and Dad drove him home in our brown Honda Accord. Mom held him in the front seat. (car seats wouldn't become mandatory for a few more years).  He was wrapped up in a cotton blanket. And I couldn't wait to unwrap him... he was like the best present ever. I was more than excited.

I had been the youngest of 4 brothers. Being the baby of the family, I was "thumped upon" quite a lot. BUT on this day, November 11, 1977 the tide had turned. I was now the BIG brother. I could do some thumping of my own. At least I could, if I wanted to. But I didn't want to. I was overjoyed. I couldn't wait to play with him. I cherished him.

Perhaps no other calendar date is more emblazoned on my mind. It was on this day I started learning about love. I learned you could love someone you have never met, but somehow already knew. And that you didn't know when you started loving them or how it happened, but it felt good. Like the best decision you had ever made.

I had no way of knowing that first day's lesson would be written on the chalkboard of my heart and would never be erased. Ben was the recipient of my love. He hadn't done anything to earn it and he couldn't do anything to stop it. God's love is like that... only better!

More later.

VAN

40 Days of Love | Day One | Lessons on Love

On May 30, 2010 at 10:15 AM during our preservice prayer time I felt compelled to pray "Lord, get glory in this day." I remember I repeated it... "Lord, get glory in this day!" What I didn't realize was at that exact moment God was doing just what I was asking.

I was thinking about the next hour and a half that we would be in our worship service at Willamette. I was thinking about people worshipping God and hearing and responding to His word. I was thinking, praying and believing that those were the ways God would get glory. Yet at 10:15 AM on May 30, 2010, 600 miles away, God was getting getting glory.

2 Timothy 4:18 says "the Lord will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever."

That's just what God did for my brother. He brought Ben safely home. He started that process at 10:15 AM when Ben had his first of two seizures. He answered my prayer in a way unexpected and frankly undesired. Ben died about a hour later. God got glory on May 30. How?  By proving how faithful He is in every situation. In fact for the 32 1/2 years previous, since that wonderful and yet dark day on November 11, 1977 when Ben was born, God has been getting glory.

Ben was my teacher. Though he was my baby brother with Down's Syndrome, he taught me about love. God's love. I want to reflect on these lessons over these next 40 days. Lessons on Love taught by God through Ben.
More later.
VAN

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Intro Video for new series on Marriage.