I’m linking up again today with 5-Minute Friday, hosted by the fabulous Lisa-Jo Baker. It’s a challenge to write for 5 minutes and 5 minutes only, solely for the sake of writing. Not for perfection. Not for impact. Not for anything but the love of writing. Today’s prompt? BELOVED.
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A really good friend of mine had a tattoo on her wrist: agapetos, or “beloved” in Greek. It was in Greek script, even, and I loved it. I loved that she would have a constant reminder of her identity…her status in this world.
Beloved.
And there is a song out right now, proclaiming to young girls everywhere that they are beautiful…precious….beloved. When I hear it, I always wonder what difference that would have made if I had heard that message – and listened – when I was younger. How would the trajectory of my life have been different had I simply known and believed that I was the beloved….not just of my mom and dad…but of the Most High God? How would things have looked different for me? What could have been?
But then I have to remember that in His love for me, God does not have regrets. He only has plans. He does not look at my past and think about what could have been, but looks at me today and sees what could be. He does not shake His head in disappointed wonder, mystified that it somehow took me this long to understand who I am. He only grins and pulses with joy that His child has finally come home to rest in the truth she never knew.
I am beloved. No conditions and no regrets. Beloved.
Agapetos.
“For I know the plans I have for you – plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)