And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in Him. . . There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  I John 4:16, 18-19; Deut. 6:4

Some of our “ladies” (Ok, fine, chickens) have mastered the art of curtseying. They’ve spent years in charm school learning this, as well as French, needlepoint, and the piano forte. As a result of this fine training, when we walk by them they will stop in their tracks, quiver a little, and squat down (I mean curtsey). Sadly, this isn’t because they respect us. It isn’t because they love us, either. It’s not even because they recognize our goodness to them – you know, the fact that we feed them and make sure they have water and we throw watermelon to them and we scrape their poo boards so their coop doesn’t stink and dust them for mites (no wonder we’re tired). Nope. None of these. The reason they curtsey is fear. Fear causes their obeisance, their compliance. It’s at this point, however, that we can pick them up, pet them, speak lovingly to them, sing John Denver tunes to them, but to no avail. Its only effect is our joy. We alone delight in these moments.

I’m grateful that what I have with my Master isn’t so one sided. He delights in His people and we can delight in Him (Psalm 16:3; 18:19; 37:4, 23). Because of His great mercy and grace and His gift of salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, my relationship with Him is marinated in the delight of His love. God designed this relationship to be holy and unique and precious. Two-sided. Love for love.