Recently, I was watching an episode of “The Bachelorette.” Now, normally, this isn’t a show I typically watch. Summer activities and evening priorities keep me from kicking back and watching mindless reality television. But on this evening, I watched as Desiree, the bachelorette, was blindsided by one of her front-runner suitors in part one of the season finale.
As the young man offered his embrace and mumbled words of apology, Desiree cried out her heartbreak and gut-wrenching sadness. I can’t remember her exact words, but as she and the gentleman talked, she relayed her feelings. I think it went something like this: “I’ve loved so completely,” she said. “But I’ve never felt what its like to have that love reciprocated.”
Now, for those of you who are not familiar with “The Bachelorette” and its premise, let me explain briefly what she may have meant here. Desiree, and other contestants from the show “The Bachelor” are cast as possible matches for one man who dates and finally chooses one woman to propose to at the end of the show. Those who the bachelor does not choose are later in the running to possibly be the next bachelorette, where they can then have their pick of eligible bachelors and hopefully find the one they have been searching for. Desiree had already been on “The Bachelor” and had not been chosen. She said she loved Sean, but nevertheless, he did not choose her in the end.
Now once more, Desiree finds herself rejected. I won’t lie to you; I teared up when I heard her crying and saw the devastation written all over her face. But what really effected me were her words about never feeling completely loved and never having her love reciprocated.
Most of you are aware that I am single. I have had my share of relationships but none that have been really serious. I have felt the disappointment of rejection, but I have never been in a relationship long enough to feel the utter loss when one I loved has walked away. So honestly, I can’t say that I identify with Desiree’s pain. However, I do know what it feels like to be loved completely and to have that love reciprocated.
You might be wondering how that is possible if I’ve never been in a serious relationship. Well, you see, I am in a committed and very serious relationship… with the King of the universe. Yes, you read that correctly. I am in love with my best friend, Jesus. He is everything to me and I love Him with all my heart.
“But He’s not here in the flesh!” you might object. “How can you love someone who isn’t there to hold you, talk to you, take you out on dates, etc.?”
Well, its definitely not a conventional relationship that can be viewed through human standards. Although I love Him deeply, nothing compares to the passion with which He loves me. There are times when I don’t give the praise, honor, and glory He deserves. I don’t always come to Him in prayer, probably because I somehow think I can do it all myself. I hurry through my busy schedule some days without barely uttering a word to Him. But He’s still there no matter what, and I only need to reach out to Him in times in need.
Its hard to imagine that He would want to pursue me in my lukewarm state. Sometimes, if I’m being honest, I don’t reciprocate the love He has shown me. But even so, He remains at the center of my world, and He longs for me to spend time with Him. Did you catch that? He longs to spend time with me! Out of everything He could be doing, all of the souls He could commune with, He longs to spend time with me! How amazing is that?
Even with this realization, I still have to remind myself that He is enough for me. Sometimes this is hard for a single girl like me to internalize. Like Desiree, I have never felt another man truly loved me. I want to feel that love some day should God bring that him into my life. But until then, I need to cling to the One who truly completes me and loves me unconditionally. No, its not the same as earthly romance or a physical representation of love and devotion, but the love of my Best Friend is beyond compare.
As I close for today, I think of a song that I led at church a few weeks ago. I have made these lyrics the praise that I often sing to Him as I go about my daily activities simply so that I might be reminded that He is truly enough for me.
EnoughBy Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio
All of You is more than enough for all of me
For ev’ry thirst and ev’ry need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough
You’re my supply my breath of life
Still more awesome than I know
You’re my reward worth living for
Still more awesome than I know
And
You’re my sacrifice of greatest price
Still more awesome than I know
You’re my coming King You are ev’rything
Still more awesome than I know
More than all I want more than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know more than all I can say
You are more than enough
cassiecontemplates 