“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8
Lovelocks
Recently I watched a film about Lovelocks. Lovelocks are padlocks left by lovers on the Pont des Arts Bridge in Paris as a symbol of their love. Interestingly, in recent years the city of Paris had to remove forty-five tons of padlocks from the pedestrian bridge because the bridge could no longer bear the weight of all the locks left by friends and lovers. I began to think about all the difference stories of love that were left on that bridge as well as many other bridges around the world.
As I researched these lovelocks as an idea for a gift for my husband, I discovered the locks have no key. These unique lovelocks lock one time only, meaning that once your love is locked, it is sealed forever. This made me think about how God’s love for us will never change and cannot be undone. It is forever. Christ paid the price for us all on the cross, shedding His precious blood and giving His life. That cross was so very heavy, but no other person besides Jesus could bear that weight. The burden Jesus went on to carry was the weight of souls to be saved, not only on that day, but for all the future days to come.
In my continuing search for my gift, I found some of the lovelocks are heart shaped. The heart, like a circle, is an unending, continuous line. You don’t have to lift your pen when you draw the shape of a heart. The heart is a recognizable symbol of love here on earth. Love can speak its own words without barriers, languages or dialects. You can show love to anyone, no matter who they are or what they understand or believe. Love is universal and can move huge mountains from hate and violence to love and acceptance.
Matters of the heart go on. Love remains after a person is gone. We can recall happy moments or thoughts in our mind and our heart can begin to well up with remnants of their love. I believe that feeling is from God. God is love and when we believe in Him, His love is planted deep in our hearts. His love can conquer all. His love is full of abundance, grace, mercy, joy and peace.
Today, will you let your heart be open to connect and accept the love of God waiting for you? It is an extravagant love like no other. His perfect love can be locked and sealed with you forever.
“Lord, thank You for planting love in our hearts as believers. Help us to nurture and cultivate that love to glorify You and produce a garden of joy for all to see. Amen.”
So grateful.
Oh my gosh what a marvelous metaphor you used! Since Christ is our bridge to God, the weight of sin he has born for us is incalculable. This was marvelous. Thank for all the worthy effort!
As the writer of this I wanted to share that I did find the perfect heart shaped lovelock and gave it to my husband for Valentine’s Day. He loved it and we are still searching for the perfect place to leave it as symbol of our love for each other. We’re thinking of a special path we walk together most days or on the gate leading to our garden so it will remain a part of our home forever. Gods love is so precious!