Beloved

Have you ever received a letter like the one that came to me, written below? Perhaps one was sent to you, but you never opened it.…

My Beloved One,

My heart is breaking for you. I see your suffering, suffering that no words can ever describe, and your pain cuts through me. If you only knew the depths of my love for you … I want to comfort you, to hold you close, to give you my strength, but you have turned away. You have run away from our intimacy, and I haven’t heard from you for many months. How I miss you! I know that I cannot make you return — I could never make you do anything. Love doesn’t force. Love is patient. Love is willing the good of the other. And so I will wait, for however long it may take, willing your healing, your comfort and joy.

When you are ready, I will be here, giving you all that I have and all that I am, ever willing to lay my own life down to raise you up.

Do you remember the spring when you found me? Oh, how we gloried in each other’s company the whole summer long! Everything that we did together, in loving union with each other, bore rich and beautiful fruit. Every busy moment was filled with purpose, every quiet with pleasure. We were each other’s treasure, the fulfillment of one another was our pure delight. But then a cold wind blew roughly in, and, feeling great pain, you lost your faith in us, and your heart began to freeze in isolation. Oh, my beautiful one, do not suffer alone! Return to me, and let me share your fears, sorrows, and burdens — let me love you through everything.

Until then, though you hide yourself away in despair, I will whisper love in gentle breezes that caress your skin, kiss you softly in the sweetness of honey upon your lips, and hold you tenderly as the very earth beneath your feet. Know that you are worth the entire creation of heaven and earth! For you alone I would’ve made the sun and the moon, the mountains and sea, the grassland woven with flower and the twilight rimmed with crimson and gold, so that everywhere in your sight you may behold beauty and delight in the creative power of love.

I love you infinitely, my beautiful one. More than mere words could ever possibly say.

Let the winter pass, Beloved, and know that you are never forsaken. Let the rains receive your tears, the mists receive your sighs, and, in the rising of the sun, let the time of blossoming return — come home, come love me again! Do not hesitate, weighed down by worry or doubt. I am here. Always. In the warmth of divine love, I promise that you will rise to newness of life, stronger and deeper in true joy because of the sorrows that we come through together.

Eternally yours,

I AM

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© 2022 Christina Chase

Feature Photo by sippakorn yamkasikorn on Unsplash