The Chase….

It started way back….. in my younger days.  This kid…. in hot pursuit of me.

PRESCHOOL.

SANDBOX.

He threw sand at me and I instantly knew it must be love at first sight.

For years he followed me around THAT playground… always in close proximity to wherever I was.  My secrets always seemed to be his curiosity.  And, it didn’t change as the years went by…. none of it was ever different.  He was crazy about me…. This simple girl with….

Brown Hair

and

Freckles!

My precious memory will forever be marked by the day….  I went from being the childhood girl he wooed… to his high school sweetheart.  I had to give him a chance… afterall, this, his pursuit, had lasted long enough.  Minutes led to hours making way to weeks and months.  Before you know it we had graduated and were heading off to college…. together.

That summer…. before we had to truly “grow up” held many long nights….. just being together.  He, my prince.  My knight in shining armor.  Me, the preschool princess he passionately pursued.

We had our hangout… “our place” at the park, under the big trees… far beyond any swings and slides.

And as our “childhood” days were closing in on us…. he left his mark… on that tree.  A permanent display…. etched in age old wood…. for all the world to see.

I was his and he loved me!

It’s crazy really, when I think about it.  How determined he was all those years…. to chase after me.  NEVER giving up…. until I gave in.  My surrender signaled his success.

I still love to visit that old place of ours.  I remember just like yesterday…. how it all came to be… him and me.

I recently found myself drawn away from that sacred place of ours.  Taking in the sites one afternoon and …..  checking out the trees in the area…. you know, to see who loved who….   afterall, I am certain this carving behavior is an age old tradition.  As a matter of fact, my journey that day confirmed this suspicion for me.

I found myself… standing atop a hill.  A beautiful hill.  Maybe you have heard of it.  The sign below said “CALVARY.”  Here, in this place, you could see for miles.  But, I couldn’t.  Not that day.  You see….  my eyes caught a glimpse of this one tree… and I couldn’t help but to be completely drawn in by what I had seen.  Millions of thousands of names….  carved into this tree….  I ran my fingers across them and I looked around.  Then it occurred to me… the very etching my fingers beheld… MY OWN.  I read it carefully.  I read it slowly.  And, I began to weep.  Taking sure notice of HIS tools at my feet.

For years he pursued me…

while I sometimes ran.

HE wooed me and chased me…

it was all a part of HIS plan.

Three nails were all HE used….

Etching my name.

HE was battered and bruised….

This, HIS… claim to fame!

On this, a  hill…. at Calvary….

I read my name upon that tree.

HE etched it clearly

for all to see…

My heart stopped a moment…

pausing to be free…

and I knew in an instant…

HE was the ONE for me.

My God who pursues me

to the ends of the earth.

Scratched my name on that tree

the day of my birth.

Two words stood out

as I looked at that tree…

FORGIVENESS and GRACE

shed for me.

I realize now HIS SPIRIT dwells…

in my heart

and

in my head as well.

This JESUS of mine…

it’s plain to see…

gave HIS  life on that tree…

the one I saw at CALVARY!

Yes, it’s true…

My JESUS LOVES ME!