Loving Hannah

Sometime today Hannah will make her debut. The dictionary defines "debut" as a first appearance on stage, the first appearance of something, a formal introduction and entrance into society. All of these meanings are appropriate for the birth of our fifth grandchild. Her parents have planned and made extensive preparations for her arrival. Her soon-to-be big sister is ecstatic and can barely contain her excitement. Her grandparents cannot wait to spoil her (and then send her back to her parents to contend with the fallout). To put it simply, Hannah is enormously loved even before she graces the world with her presence.

As I think about how much Hannah is already loved, I realize that I cannot begin to fathom the love God has for his children. An infinite God loves infinitely! You and I are loved with a measure that can't be measured and surely can't be imagined. I appreciate anew the words to an old song by Frederick Lehman (1917) that never ceases to move me:

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain:
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Yes, Hannah is greatly loved. And so are you and I by our heavenly Father.

(Dane Fowlkes, Pastor)