Loved

Loved.

A small word, yet so immense it’s often hard to grasp.

Loved.

Even in the absence of affection from another, you are still cherished.

Cherished by the One who laid down His life for you.

But His love doesn’t stop there.

It ripples out, touching places you’ve never even thought to look.

The cashier at the grocery store,

she treasures the warmth of your smile.

The neighbor down the street,

quiet but watchful,

holds your kind words close.

The little girl in the pew behind you at church,

her heart dances because you always see her.

The gas station attendant,

they marvel at the way joy never seems far from your face.

Yes, there are some who may not love you.

But oh, the countless others who do.

Strangers whose names you’ve never known.

Souls who pass by, made lighter by your presence.

And it all began with Him—

the Name above all names,

whose love for you spilled over,

rushing like a river,

flooding the world around you.

Because He loves you,

no one you’ve touched remains the same.

You are loved.