"To love is to receive a glimpse of Heaven."
~ Karen Sunde
~ Karen Sunde
Great Multitude
#loveoneanother
I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth;
Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.
~ Psalms 109:30 (NKJV)
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands ...
~ Revelation 7:9 (NKJV)
I travel in many circles:
my family, husband's family, church family;
my ministry, his work, our kids' friends;
Facebook, Twitter, blogsphere;
present neighbors, and friends we never quite let go.
Then there's those many people I just know. Mary and Judy and everyone at the grocery stores. People I recognize only as parents of kids my kids know. Clerks and attendants and receptionists all over. (I'm continually embarrassed by how many names I forget.)
A good many of us know each other as children of the King. When our paths cross, I want to sit down with every single one of you, soak up your company, and express my genuine affection for you. I hate hasty hellos and quickly posted comments and 140 character tweets that say far less than I want to.
Today, I give thanks for your place in my life, whatever it may be.
Today, I give thanks that the day is coming when I'll remember every name, get to hug every neck, and have eternity to bask in your presence.
Ironically, I'm writing about people least likely to see this today, because hardly any of the "great multitude" for whom it is intended will read my blog on a holiday.
I nonetheless say to every one: I love you.
Father in Heaven, thank You for blessing me with so many wonderful people in my life. Please let me be Your blessing to each and every one of them. Please show me how to best love so many in this temporal and imperfect place.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from community.beliefnet.com
Love you too Anne. What a beautiful banquet we will share on that very special day. XOXO I'm thankful eternity awaits.
ReplyDeleteI, too, give thanks for "meeting" you, for here in this place I find much to savor until that heavenly banquet!
ReplyDeleteShalom,
Denise
Hope your thanksgiving was truly blessed sis. I cannot wait to hug your neck one day, and dance with you. I love you.
ReplyDeleteT. Anne, it only SEEMS like a long wait. Once we're there, we'll soon forget how long the car ride was.
ReplyDeleteDenise @, I so wish there was a way to keep up with everyone. It will be one of the best parts of Heaven.
Denise, today's just BUSY. Tomorrow is our family's dinner. And your hug is waiting, waiting, waiting ... :D
Oh, oh, oh ... I am SOOOO, so glad I stopped by tonight on this evening of Thanks and Praise. You said it so well, Anne. We live in these overlapping communities -- each one special in its own way. I, too, am thankful even for those people I've never seen face to face -- special people like you.
ReplyDeleteI thank God for YOU this evening.
Jennifer, there's no way I could begin to count the ways you've blessed me. We swing through Iowa to and from Denver each year. I may just have to figure out a way to detour north next time I'm on Iowa I-80. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks for your love everyday Annie!
ReplyDeleteMary, you KNOW my love for you. I long for the day we'll be together again, with no more good-byes.
ReplyDelete