I had the privilege of seeing a beautiful exhibit on the life of Princess Diana at the Grand Rapids Art Museum with mom and daughter. As we walked through the different moments from her life’s timeline, there was joy to behold and sadness. It was so lovely yet equally haunting.
It is no secret that she was a woman of means. She came from a wealthy and prestigious family. Married at a young age to the Prince of Whales, there was nothing she didn’t have. Fantastic and stunning jewelry, a designer wardrobe, homes and castles, it was all at her fingertips, to be sure.
As I think back on the pictures we saw of her, its her sparkling blue eyes that linger in my memory. We saw her life portrayed for us in photos and video as well as other possessions and artifacts, but mostly I think of those eyes. They seemed to search, a hint of emptiness, there was a longing for more.
What more could someone like this beautiful princess want?
Her story is one of jilted love, to be sure. Although she lived a life of grace, rich in humanitarian efforts, conducting a public life all the while caring for her sons, still, she had been set aside. Her divorce from Prince Charles was a scandal that rocked the world. When I was watching her story on display yesterday, I came to realize that maybe, just maybe she was longing for real and true love.
I know that is what I yearn for. Love. Unconditional, whole hearted love. No amount of tiaras, gowns or vacation homes can buy it. In fact – nothing can purchase the kind of love that is really fulfilling. A fully satisfying love can only come from the inventor of love, our Creator, God himself. Anything else that the world offers is an impostor.
There is good news. He offers His love – it is free, for all who receive it. I don’t have to have enough money or be from the right family tree or anything of that sort. His love extends to each man, without price or condition. I can’t describe it with my own words… Forgive me, but I can’t get the lyrics to one of my favorite songs off my mind tonight… I know I’ve used them before…
Here is love, vast as the ocean
Lovingkindness as the flood
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom
Shed for us His precious blood
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten
Throughout Heav’n’s eternal days
On the mount of crucifixion
Fountains opened deep and wide
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast a gracious tide
Grace and love, like mighty rivers
Poured incessant from above
And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love
No love is higher, no love is wider
No love is deeper, no love is truer
No love is higher, no love is wider
No love is like Your love, o Lord
This is love like no other. I find such release and such peace knowing that I could never purchase it, and I will never have to. Thank you, Oh my Heavenly Father for this all consuming, all sufficient love.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 1Jn 3:1
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