Last year Paulette and I, together with Paulette’s sister Top and her husband Sam, flew out to San Diego to visit with Top and Sam’s son Richard and his wife Leena.  It was a wonderful week.  It’s true; San Diego does have great weather with beautiful sunshine.  Richard and Leena’s home is very nice, and their back yard is bordered by a state nature preserve giving captivating views of mountains and valleys.  It was like spending a week at a vacation resort.

A better part of the week was the chance to be with family and enjoy their affectionate fellowship and love.  Many memories were shared; dinnertime conversations seemed to bring this out the most.  While Top and Sam were not old, they were at an age that travel was challenging.  Richard had overcome several health issues that had affected his travel also.  This made the visit even more meaningful.

Paulette and Top fell in love with Richard and Leena’s little dog Cooper.  Cooper is a Bichon Frise, who never met a stranger.  Paulette has lots of pictures of him, but rather than include one I’d like you to imagine a white, curly, cuddly ball of friendly, energetic happiness.  Whenever he saw either Paulette or Top, every muscle of his body was in motion in anticipation of being petted or played with.  There was no yipping or nipping.  He only offered unconditional affection.  The three of them had a ball.

It was a great visit, and I think that we can find a parallel in our Christians lives.  It is important to participate in a church, and one reason is to fellowship with other Christians.  In John 13:35 Jesus points that one way others will recognize us as Christians is by our love for one another.  The early Christian church as described in Acts 2, even used sharing a meal as a part of this.  And while I’ve never thought of God as a white, cuddly ball like Cooper, I do think we should all take joy in the pure, unconditional love that He shows for YOU and me.

Jim