Two weekends ago, I took the following pictures at Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. The whole day was brimming with creativity and natural beauty and inspiration (more photos to come), but this sculpture* captivated me. In some ways, I imagine this is what it might look like to meet God face to face–all of His love and attentiveness and joy, and His desire to teach and guide, met with my delight in being loved and noticed by Him. I’ve imagined God in so many ways over time, sometimes envisioning light and fire and power and enormity over approachability and gentleness. More often though, in the past number of years as I have experienced more and more of His character as a Father and Redeemer, I see God as inviting, engaging, and oh-SO-personal. As much as I am awed by the scope of our Creator, I am also humbled by His deep desire and ability to know and meet each one of us where we are. This is one of the sweetest realities I have ever understood!

I was so thankful to come across this depiction of familial love and interaction in the Children’s Garden that day. What an awesome visual reminder of a God who loves us so completely:

“there are so many things to show you!”

captivated. adored. safe. unconditional.

*”The Storyteller” sculpture, credited to Victor Issa, 1994

And for good measure, the lyrics to one of my favorite songs of all time:

How He Loves (Kim Walker)

He is jealous for me
Loves like a hurricane
I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy
When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by Glory
And I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me

Oh how he loves us, so
Oh How he loves us, how he loves us so

He is jealous for me
Loves like a hurricane
I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy
When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by Glory
And I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me

And oh, how he loves us so,
Oh how he loves us, how he loves us so

Yeah he loves us
Oh how he loves us
Oh how he loves us
Oh how he loves

We are his portion and he is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in his eyes
If grace is an ocean we’re all sinking
So, heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way

He loves us
Oh how he loves us
Oh how he loves us
Oh how he loves

Yeah, he loves us
Oh how he loves us
Oh how he loves us
Oh how he loves

How He DOES love. Each one of us. May you be utterly and completely overwhelmed by God’s love today…

mm