In ‘A Light on the Hill‘ by Connilyn Cossette, Moriyah returns as our heroine. In ‘Wings on the Wind‘ we are introduced to Moriyah when the Israelites take the walls of Jericho. She was branded on her face as a temple prostitute. A brand that she is ashamed of. A brand that causes other’s to judge her for her past. A brand of her past that cannot be erased. Seven years after the fall of Jericho we meet back up with Moriyah to discover her story. In this book, we meet Darek as our hero, a potential love interest for Moriyah, as she navigates through life a branded woman. Darek sees beyond the mark on Moriyah’s face to the beauty of her spirit. Who in your life do you feel sees you this way, in spite of any insecurities or flaws you might have? How has this type of love changed the way you see yourself? Have you reminded yourself lately that your heavenly Father sees you this way? If not, take a moment and thank him now for such unconditional acceptance and love.
This book touched my heart and made me reflect on this very question. In fact, I even wrote an article on the blog titled, “When God Speaks Through Books,” that explores this topic.
For me, until God works self-acceptance in my heart, it’s really hard to see when others value and love me unconditionally. I’ve been blessed in my life to have a few people who have loved me fiercely and I’ll take a few moments to talk about that.
I have a friend that I speak to daily on the phone. She’s the one person who I can admit my most awful (and sometimes judgemental thoughts) to and she still loves me. I can admit to her when I know that perhaps my thoughts are wrong and that I’m working on making myself a better person. And she just listens without judgment. Okay—maybe there have been a few misunderstandings along the way but I think for the most part she knows I’m not necessarily seeking approval so much as needing to sort out my own thoughts.
At the risk of sounding cliche—I have to say my husband honestly has loved unconditionally. I mean, not all the times. Sometimes we kind-of-sort-of hate each other but what honest married couple doesn’t kind-of-sort-of-hate each other sometimes? He is there when it counts. Like when I vomited in his car on our first date due to a sudden onset of a middle ear infection. Yep, I did that and he has never once ever even mentioned it to me again. He may have carried me into the hospital weeks later for a massive migraine that wouldn’t go away and I may have vomited on him…ON HIM. Yes, I know this is totally TMI but my point is? He’s loved me unconditionally when it matters. He should have known then that I’m medically complex. There has been so much stuff that he’s dealt with and honestly, he’s never guilted me for being a complex person. Sometimes I dislike myself and he always tells me to hush because he loves me and he doesn’t see me as a burden…even when I feel like one.
Love has definitely changed my life in many ways. I’m just not at the point where I always recognize it. I’m still working on that and I know that every time I have these instances where God (and people) remind me that they love me, I’m one step closer to actually believing it.
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