He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created. James 1:18.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:5-6.

May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You. Psalm 33:22.

Reading our chapter, Song of Songs 7, we read of the idealized love that draws a man and a woman together; and while the imagery in the verses may seem foreign to us, the expression of their love is unique, as it is with us. Why did Creator God – Father…Son…Spirit, lead us to love one another? How could He not? God is family. We are His children. Our greatest need is for the love of family…and God is family. We were never meant to do this alone. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:2-6. In our deepest need, God is working in ways we cannot see, but He sees.

Last night I watched on PBS an episode about the rescuing of animals in Ukraine during the war. Many who left were able to take their pets, one of the biggest evacuation of pets ever done. But many were not. Pets left behind, lions, tigers, bears, a cow seen running through war-torn streets littered with heavy machinery of war. One male lion was so traumatized by the shelling while he was in a small cage, all he could do was threaten all who came near trying to help, and the panic in his eyes testified to the fear humans and animals alike experience when everything is out of their control. That lion found refuge in a big-cat refuge in Spain and the difference in him was amazing. He was shown love and mercy. How we need that when we are lost and hurting and traumatized by sickness, by abuse of others, by loneliness, by fear, by a world choosing violence. What they found as they worked together to save the animals was their own healing so needed amidst all the destruction.

Working together, sharing burdens, giving and allowing the comfort and love of family helps us experience the tender love of God. We may not understand all that is happening in our lives torn asunder by events we can’t control, but we can understand love given and received that nourishes the deepest part of us. The love of family given to us by our loving Father, Son, Holy Spirit. We need. Let love do its work.