When Love’s Heart Suffers

“My Name is Love,” He’d said to me.

So I took Him at His word.

Just one deep look into His eyes

Spoke volumes not yet heard.

“Come walk with Me.” His hand stretched forth

so I could grasp His arm.

With my hand held tight in His

I felt protected from all harm.

We started off; the path He knew,

Mine it was to keep the pace.

We traveled on through twists and turns,

And then I saw His face…

He looked at me with that soft look,

but this time with a mix…

A flash of what? I could not tell,

but in it I saw risk.

“Do you love Me?” He stopped and asked.

No further did we trod,

until I looked deep in my heart

for what I’d offer God.

“I do, my Lord; you know it’s true,

though I haven’t much to give.

But will you take this heart of mine

in hopes that I may LIVE?”

His eyes burned bright, flashing white-hot fire

and His face changed once again.

“My Name is Love, do not forget

when it feels more like pain.”

“You’re My beloved, are you not?

I gave My life for thee.

Bought with a price that cost Me all,

you now share my suffering…

For I see mirrored in your eyes

My love that you’ve let grow,

while you’ve been learning how to die,

you’ve also come to know…

That Love’s heart can’t help but suffer too

as you join Me on the cross.

I died not once, but now WITH you

as you count it all but loss.

My Name is Love; My heart can’t help

but suffer so I may heal

that which in you is marred and ill,

to bring forth what is Real.

More glorious than what would have been

before this path we took.”

He squeezed my hand, my faith grew strong.

“My Name is Love…”

I know That Look.

Lord, You are worth the suffering so that I may know You and Your resurrection power…

Still Your beloved,

Gracefully Free

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] that if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].  Philippians 3:10-11