In 1826, the British author Thomas Carlyle married Jane Welsh, who also
was an accomplished writer. She dedicated herself to his success and served him
wholeheartedly.
Because of a stomach ailment and a nervous disorder, he had a rather
ornery temperament. So she made special meals for him and tried to keep the
house as quiet as possible so he could do his writing.
Thomas didn’t often recognize Jane’s helpful spirit nor did he spend
much time with her. However, he wrote this about her to his mother: “I may say
in my heart that she . . . loves me with a devotedness which is a mystery to me
how I have ever deserved. She . . . looks with such soft cheerfulness into my
gloomy countenance, that new hope passed into me every time I met her eye.”
We too have Someone who loves us with a devotedness that is a mystery
how we as sinners ever deserved it! He is God the Father, “who did not spare
His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all” (Rom. 8:32). His love is wide, long, deep, and
high and exceeds our knowledge (Eph. 3:18-19).
Understanding and appreciating God’s love is so vital that Paul prayed
for the Ephesians to be “rooted and grounded” in it (v.17). May that be our
experience as well.
There is no greater joy than to know God loves you. (RBC)
