My Greatest Love Of All

By: Nancy Abiera

 

Happy Valentine Day to all!

We all experience being in love where we can describe it to be so glorious as if we are like floating on Cloud 9. Some of us also have experienced being out of love. . . brokenhearted and hurt.

I have fallen in love and it was joyous, precious and no enough words can describe it. This was also true when I fell out of love. The amount of pain and suffering is so indescribable, feeling traumatized by the extreme heart ache that feels so excruciating as if you are dying.

I have been in love four times. My first love was my father whom I adored and respected so much. Unfortunately, he passed away on February 13, 1980, the day before Valentine’s Day. I was very 22 years young and innocent yet the pain of losing a father shook me greatly. I was devastated to the point that I felt so much confusion with hurt and numbness at the core of my being. I could not even describe it.

The next one I experienced is the love relationship with a boyfriend. Again it was thrilling and exciting like a roller coaster ride but betrayal gave me another traumatic shock. Abandonment, rejection and other feelings of unworthiness over shadowed my life. I was 26 and the pain was so tormenting that I decided to leave the Philippines and pursue a new life in the United States,

Just to give you some bullet point summary:

1st Love Feb.13, 1980 Heartbreak from losing a father who died.
2nd Love May 8, 1984 Betrayal & Breakup from first boyfriend.
June 20, 1984 Applied/Approved passport a few weeks after
July 24, 1984 Applied for a U.S. visa as tourist
August 20, 1984 U.S. Visa approved
Sept. 1, 1984 Left the Philippines Toured Los Angeles,
San Francisco & New York
Oct. 8, 1984 Arrived in Chicago
3rd Love Oct. 27, 1984

Married in Chicago Court

Nov. 20, 1984 Received the Green card from Tourist to US Resident

I cannot even fathom the goodness of God in my life, my marriage, my family, my calling, etc.

4th Love Nov. 27, 1986 Committed my whole heart/life to the Lord Received the love of Jesus as my Savior & Lord

I call the 4th love my greatest love of all. Why? From the very start and 38 years after, I am still in love with Jesus who loved me unconditionally, gave me hope, healed my heart; renewed my mind and restored me back. This was the strong foundation for me, my marriage, family and all aspects of my life.

Honestly, I can only describe this 4th love as the greatest because it was miraculous. Going back to memory lane. . . My marriage to my husband Jonathan was exactly 19 days upon arrival in Chicago. We did not have time for courtship. We just went to Chicago Court and got married. In a nutshell, we got married; bought a house; had 2 wonderful sons; had our career and now we are dating.

In other words, I can sum it up by saying:

Before my husband Jonathan became a dentist, he was my tooth ache. Before Nancy became a pastor, she was the abscess of that tooth. But Jesus came and saved us both. and Jesus became the golden crown of our lives, marriage and family.

For me, Jesus is indeed my greatest love of all.

How about you?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. John 3:16

Let us pray.

Lord, thank You for Your great love for us that You sent Jesus from heaven to earth to bring salvation and deliverance. We pray that we will all experience that greatest love that comes only from You, Lord. Help us experience Your unfailing love as we open our hearts to You and surrender everything to You. We pray these Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Always choose “On A Bright Side” moving further and farther “On A Brightest Side”. I love you readers with the love of the Lord yet the Lord loves you the most. You are blessed. Smile and be a blessing!