trick or treat?

Here they are...Bolt, Diego, and Megatron

Bolt with her dragon pumpkin...

Diego with a smile as wide as the one on his pumpkin...

Megatron with his Decepticon symbol...

Trick or treating with cousins who were also adorable.

what my youngest have been up to

Sometimes it seems Josiah and Rachel are two peas in a pod, even with 5 (almost 6) years between them. It helps that they enjoy the same activites...like...coloring, cutting, and creating at the table!

Last Saturday Rachel wasn't feeling well, so the three of us were home together. She and Josiah pulled up to the table and created artwork to send off to grandparents who live far away. They LOVED it and stayed at the task well over an hour.

Never mind that stickers are supposed to go on paper...

Cutting jack-o-lanterns is always a hit. I've never seen a child love to scrape out the insides quite the way Josiah goes at it. Sorry, this is my only picture of Micah this time around. That's his sock. He's sitting in the chair, reading a book.

And of course, Josiah makes friends with his pumpkin, which had to have a smile.

Off to Nana and Papa's to spend the night. "I carry my suitcase!"

fellowship on the staircase

It was the end of a long, rather frustrating day. I had been home alone most of the day with a sick child and a wild 2-year-old who, in spite of my best efforts, didn't seem to mind beating up on the invalid lounging on the couch, the dog, and anything else that crossed his path. I was more than ready to head for bed. After sinking into a nice doze, I was startled awake and groaned inwardly. Once I miss that first wave of sleep, I have learned I may as well get up and find something to do before trying again.

I stumbled out into the hall and down the steps, stopping to rest at the bottom, head in hands. All the trials of the past day, week, and month seemed to pounce on me at once. Crying out to the Lord was uppermost on my mind, yet I worked to keep God at arms' length. I've never been very good at allowing Him to draw near when my biggest frustration is really with myself. Why would He want to be close to me at a time like this anyway?

Yet God, in His ever-pursuing love, would not let me go. I thought of John 4, the passage I was studying that week, where we read the account of the woman at the well. For the first time ever, I wondered what was going through the woman's mind as she came to draw water in the middle of the day? She was an outcast, despised by Jews for her mixed-up religious heritage but also by her own Samaritans for her immoral lifestyle. Was she feeling empty, frustrated, and wondering if the path her life had taken would ever change? Yet Jesus was not deterred from initiating a conversation with her. In fact, He seemed to have a special place in His heart for people like this, and had come to the well especially to meet with her. (I believe this is why verse 4 reads, "Now He had to go to Samaria.") He said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" Then He went on to draw her into a conversation that would change her life for eternity.

Did He know all about her? Did He know the rejection, the emptiness, the immorality? Absolutely! After offering her living water, piquing her interest in Who He was and what He had to offer, He pinpointed her sin problem. "Go, call your husband and come back." Not only did Jesus know she had no husband, He went on to reveal His knowledge that she had been through a series of husbands and now had a live-in boyfriend. Yet this woman left Jesus' presence not condemned, but set free.

Jesus knows all about us, our failings, our weakness. As I sat on those steps, I sensed the Lord Himself was near and ready to minister to my weary, sin-sick soul. He already knows all about us and draws near to the frustrated, the broken-hearted; the empty, leaky vessels who are the objects of His grace. These are some of His favorite times. He comes to tell us that He has something to offer that will quench our thirst, cleanse our sin, replenish our empty resources, and give life to others. That something is Himself. The next time you feel yourself keeping Him at arms length, will you pause and consider this to be the moment of His pursuing love and allow Him to draw near?

John 4:10 "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

stumbling across a treasure

While working through the curriculum Before Five in A Row with my 2-year-old, we came across this gem of a book after digging it up on an inter-library loan. If Jesus Came to My House, by Joan Gale Thomas, was first published in England and then in the U.S. in 1951. The story begins, "If Jesus Came to My House and knocked upon the door, I'm sure I'd be more happy than I've ever been before..." Thus begins a little boy's imaginitive description of a visit with little boy Jesus. The boy shares his best toys, offers Him the best seat, and gives Him the prettiest flowers from his garden. After his imaginings he wistfully concludes Jesus cannot truly come and play in this way, but the boy can still act on Jesus' very real presence in his life by doing these kind acts for others. Part of his conclusion is "I still can share with Jesus the nicest of my toys by lending them or giving them to poorer girls and boys. And though He may not visit me as I have wished He would, yet even so He'll bless my house if I am kind and good."

This story is so sweet and poignant, I cried the first time I read it through. I quickly looked the book up online to see if I could purchase my own copy of the book and found that indeed, collectible copies are available from $65-$200 on Amazon!!! There are a few cheaper options floating around, and a book with new pictures was published more recently and is available on CBD. With such a great story, you can't go wrong either way. However, I have to admit to being a bit of a purist myself with this older book, since my little guy has already taken a great liking to the pictures.

Betty Stam

At the missions conference at our church this week, I learned the story behind the woman whose quote is included in my blog. Betty Scott Stam did indeed surrender everything to her Savior at any cost. This young woman and her husband lost their lives while ministering in China in the early 1900's when their infant daughter (who miraculously escaped) was just 3 months old. Read about the Stam's martyrdom here. I ran across Betty's quote in one of Elisabeth Elliot's books. How many Christian missionaries went forth as a result of this couple's sacrifice for the gospel? We wonder how they could give up so much for Christ. Perhaps the real question is how we could bear to miss out on all He offers to a life fully surrendered to Him.

Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever.-Betty Scott Stam

Indian summer

The rain finally quit falling, the temps warmed up, and the kids got well. It's Indian summer in Central IL!

We have no trees in our yard, but plenty in the park just behind the fence. Grab a rake, make a pile, jump, and throw!

A church family opened their farm as a destination spot for kids and families this year, a great place to pick out a pumpkin and play. Josiah and I met his good friend Tyler and his mom Heather and spent a glorious morning just outside of town. Check it out for yourself at http://www.raderfamilyfarms.com/. We used to live on the Rader farm...sweet memories! Now we get to add more with our children.

Josiah must have spent half an hour playing in the corn.

After getting help from Mommy the first few times, Josiah got brave enough to jump himself. That took care of another half an hour.
Don't grow up too fast there, little boy.

contentment, part 3

III. The Challenge of Contentment

With Jesus the Source of true satisfaction, we come to the epistles, where believers are both challenged and commanded to “be content.” What does it truly mean to be content? Let me give you a few definitions. The first is from Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary. He defined the word “content” as “rest or quietness of the mind in the present condition; satisfaction which holds the mind in peace, restraining complaint, opposition, or further desire, and often implying a moderate degree of happiness.” Next from the Bible dictionary: Contentment is a positive assurance that God has supplied one’s needs, consequently releasing one from unnecessary desire. Warren Wiersbe has written the word content actually means “contained.” It is a description of the man whose resources are within him so that he does not have to depend on substitutes without.

The apostle Paul models true contentment when he says in Philippians 4:11-13, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” I like the Amplified Translation which adds, “I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency.” The writer of Hebrews commands, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

What are some practical ways we can learn contentment, especially when the world around us seems to conspire to create a constant sense of dissatisfaction? Well, first let me encourage you to take time to develop contentment. It is an active, not passive, process that is learned not in a week or two, but over a lifetime. I have three challenges to get us started.

A. Learn to satisfy your soul in God, not His gifts.

What is the least satisfying place you can think of? Wouldn’t it be hell? Do you realize that to the degree you seek to be satisfied in the things of this world, your soul is going to be getting a taste of what hell will be like? Remember the verses we read in Ecc. about wealth leading to misery and dissatisfaction? That Jesus warned a man who seeks to gain this world may lose his soul? On the other hand, what is the most satisfying place you can think of? Isn’t it heaven? Have you ever thought that to the degree in which you seek to be satisfied in God, you will experience a taste of what heaven will be like? Are you making time to meet with God each day? Do you bring your needs first to Him, seeking how He may fill them? I’m talking about real, deep needs such as significance, companionship, rest, power, wisdom, and forgiveness. Do you talk over with Him the material, spiritual, and emotional needs of yourself, your children, your family? Is your soul willing to wait on Him to see how He will supply? Are you so filled up with God Himself that one look at the world and you are ready to say, “No thanks, I’m satisfied” as you may pass on dessert after a hearty meal? Take note of an areas where you recognize compulsion and write down what need you are trying to satisfy. Then take it to God and ask Him to fill that need.

B. Learn to give.

The best way to combat a passion to acquire is to cultivate a passion to give. Listen to God’s promise in Isaiah 58:10-11. “If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” What can you do to develop a passion for giving your money and your life to things that are eternal? What are some ways we can develop the habit of giving in our lives and the lives of our family? Let me offer just a few ideas, and hope they are a springboard to creativity in your own family.

-Develop a passion for people and find a way to minister to them in a way that makes an eternal impact.

-Set aside money in an account that is designated for giving. As needs arise and are brought to your attention, you are prepared to meet that need. When you have a bump in income, make it first priority to bump up your giving. I’ve been challenged by the example of George Muller, the director of orphan houses in the 1800’s. Over his lifetime he served over 10,000 orphans and in a typical year, gave away 92% of his income. He knew how to be content!

-Hold a garage sale and give the proceeds to a charity or cause your children have chosen. Get them into the act: they can have a lemonade stand, help price items, make change, etc. The more ownership they have, the more excited they become about the outcome. It is so freeing to know every dollar you make is going to someone who needs it more than you do!

-Let each family member give to the mission of their choice. We did this over a year ago and it was wonderful to see how God used the interests of each person to bless another ministry. My son enjoys playing basketball so he chose to give to Above the Rim, which runs basketball camps in New York City for inner city children. My daughter chose the African Children’s Choir, I gave to Voice of the Martyrs, my husband Ministry and More, and on behalf of our youngest who was still a baby, we donated to the Pregnancy Resource Center. Those ministries continue to have a special place in my heart, I think because Matt. 6:21 is true: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

C. Leave your children a legacy of contentment.

One of the greatest motivators for me to change is to look into the eyes of my children and picture their future if I continue on the current course of my life. Do you and I want to leave them a legacy that leads to emptiness or one that leads to contentment and satisfaction? What are your current spending habits teaching them about money and its use? What would they think if they saw their parents make radical, heart-altering changes while they are still young?
I found a great book called Raising Unselfish Children In a Self-Absorbed World, and would highly recommend if you’d like more ideas for building contentment into your children. In that book I read a story of a father who was raising his children in an affluent section of London. Concerned about his son’s attitude toward wealth, he planned a trip to the country to visit relatives who lived modestly on a farm. There was little complaint from his son as he dashed off to join his cousins in exploring the countryside and helped out with chores. When they got home, the father asked how he enjoyed his visit. “Very good, Dad,” the son responded. “Do you see how poor people can be?” his father asked. “Yes, sir,” said the son. “I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool in the middle of the garden, but they have a creek that has no end. We have fancy lamps in the garden, but they have stars. Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!”

What are your current lifestyle choices teaching your children:

-about helping those in need?

-about the True source of contentment: Jesus?

-about living a life of eternal rather than temporal impact?

What are you hungry for this morning? Where are you seeking to satisfy that hunger? Let me challenge you and challenge myself, to look to the only One who truly satisfies our soul: Jesus. In Him we will find true contentment.

contentment, part 2

II. The Source of true Satisfaction

Because the Bible only uses the word content or contentment a handful of times, I traced the concept of satisfaction (which leads to contentment) through the Old and New Testament. The Old Testament speaks at length about satisfaction. I looked at 24 references that point to God as the One who satisfies the needs of His people. Often those references speak of physical satisfaction, but a few go further to show God uses His satisfaction of physical needs to point to the way He Himself satisfies our spiritual needs. Let’s look at some passages that point to the way God satisfies our souls. First Psalm 63:1, 5, 8 “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods, with singing lips my mouth will praise you. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” The Psalmist knew what it was to find satisfaction in God. He learned to fill his soul-hunger with God Himself! Let’s look now at God’s invitation to be satisfied found in Isaiah 55:1-3, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.”

This was the backdrop of the Old Testament, one the Jewish people would or should have understood well: it is God who satisfies the needs of His people, whether physically or spiritually. We turn to the pages of the New Testament, and find the word “satisfy” used there as well. In the feeding of the 5000 and of the 4000, we see again and again in the gospels, “They all ate and were satisfied.” Matt. 14:20, 15:37, Mark 6:42, 8:8, Luke 9:17…“They all ate and were satisfied.” “They all ate and were satisfied.” I read that over and over and thought it seemed a bit redundant. Then I realized what God was revealing: The God of the Old Testament has come in the Person of Jesus Christ to satisfy the needs of His people. The feeding of the crowds pointed to Christ as the one who was given to satisfy the soul-hunger of man. Jesus knew most of them did not understand this. In John 6:15, after feeding the 5000, Jesus withdrew from the crowd, knowing they intended to make him king by force. In John 6:26 He says, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” In essence Jesus was saying, “I have miraculously supplied you with bread to point to the way I can satisfy the life-hunger of your soul.” Then as Jesus goes on, you can almost hear Isaiah 55 ringing in your ears as He says, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty…I am the bread that came down from heaven…I am the bread of life…I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” God created man with a desire for satisfaction that can only be met in Jesus Christ.

contentment, part 1

I had the privilege this morning of presenting a devotion to the moms group at our church. This is a lovely group of young moms who are meeting twice a month to encourage one another in the ways of the Lord. I thought I'd post the devotion in three parts, so come back again if you want to read the rest!

I thought I’d start by asking you a question. Do your kids ever get hungry? Is anyone saying no, because if so, I want to learn your secret. It could save me bundles on groceries! If our children are hungry, we serve them nourishing (most of the time!) food that will sustain life, grant energy, and promote growth. Once our children have eaten, they are content, hop down from the table, and off to their next adventure.

What about you? Are you hungry, spiritually speaking? Is there something lacking in your life that you want so badly you can almost taste it? Perhaps there is a material need that has demanded all your attention and resources…perhaps there are not even resources enough to cover it. Perhaps there is a longing for a deepened relationship, for peace in the midst of strife, or for resolution of a difficult situation. We all have hungers, desires in life that require satisfaction. Our trouble is so often we have an appetite for steak and potatoes and we are trying to satisfy it with cotton candy. Then we wonder why we feel so lifeless, empty, and discontent.

I’ve been searching the scriptures these past weeks trying to discover what God has to say about the satisfaction of our souls and true contentment. As I share those discoveries with you, I’d like to talk about three things: the problem of possessiveness, the Source of true satisfaction, and finally the challenge of contentment. I want us to learn what the Bible teaches: true contentment is experienced in the soul that is wholly satisfied in Jesus.

I. The Problem of Possessiveness

We all live in America so...tell me, where do Americans look for satisfaction? “Let’s go shopping!!” The truth is we live in a consumer culture. We are constantly bombarded by advertisers who make it their business to create in us a sense of need and dissatisfaction. The solution to this sense of emptiness and need is to fill it: with their product! Research has determined the average American has seen 1 million commercials by the age of 20. That averages to 137 a day if you begin at birth! Add in advertisements we see in newspapers, magazines, on the internet...can you picture what this constant bombardment of advertisements is doing to our minds in creating a sense of discontentment and a need to obtain stuff to maintain or boost our sense of well-being? We constantly live with a heightened awareness of our hunger.

If more stuff is really the answer to our desire for contentment, America should be the happiest place on earth to live. Shouldn’t we be living with great joy, with families that are wholly satisfied and intact, and lives that have meaning? Yet that is not what we see. A study done in the 1980’s found that starting with the baby boom generation, when our country began to experience its greatest days of economic growth, Americans experienced a ten-fold increase in depression compared to earlier generations. Since that survey was done in the ‘80’s, I can’t help but look around and feel we are facing a depression epidemic, with every person in this room touched by it in some way. When we look around we see men and women, perhaps even ourselves, who are struggling to find meaning in their lives, families that are increasingly torn apart, and an increasing sense of not only discontentment, but utter despair.

What does the Bible say about possessiveness, this quest we have launched to satisfy our desire for happiness with things? Last summer I studied the book of Ecclesiastes, and wow, if you want a glimpse of what the hearts of people are experiencing in our culture today, read that book! Let’s start there in Ecc. 4:8 “There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless—a miserable business.” Ecc. 5:10 which says, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.” The more we get, the more we want. We are not satisfied! And again in 6:7, “All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.” Working hard to obtain wealth, income, and enjoyment in material things is going to lead to misery. Jesus puts this even more bluntly in the gospels when he warns in Mark 8:36, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Luke actually uses the words, “forfeit his very self.” The attempt to fill our emptiness with material goods actually destroys our soul.

As I have studied the subject of contentment, one thing has become crystal clear: God has created man with an earnest, voracious appetite for satisfaction. Man seeks to quench this appetite in all manner of ways. He seeks to satisfy himself through wealth, but also through things like good reputation, relationships with others, good health and wellness, excellent medical care…we pursue satisfaction in any and every way except the one way it was truly meant to be satisfied: in God Himself.

As we consider the problem of possessiveness, let’s do some self-assessment. Is there an object or person you are grasping too tightly as your source of satisfaction? When you find yourself growing discontent, what do you do to cope? Do you grab another cookie? Call a friend? Turn on the computer? Do you look for the boost that material things may supply to fill your need for satisfaction? After my youngest son was born we went through a trying time in our family, and I often found myself discontented. We lived in a small house and I was able to talk myself into deciding the solution to all our problems would just be a bigger place to live so we wouldn’t constantly be tripping over each other and our stuff. Yet I have to admit that although God was gracious to supply us with a lovely and needed new home, it didn’t solve my problems of discontentment. I was the same irritable and worn out mom (perhaps even more so!) in my new home as I was in the old. What I needed to do was bring my weary soul before God and seek His power and strength to meet my trying circumstances. The change that needed to take place was inward, not outward. That is where true contentment is found: in the inner man, not in outward circumstances or material things.

some experiences have no price tag

I stumbled across this little paragraph by Rachel today, on a folded up piece of paper on my counter.

Grandparent day is awesome. You have half of a day plus 2 days off. Then the weekend is a blur when you love Grandparent's Day. Then, it's school again. But when I grow up to be a grandparent I'll go to school on Grandparent's Day. Have breakfast with my grandchildren. And have a good weekend with them. I'll go to the Discovery Museum with them. Fun will never end. When you are a grandparent with grandchildren it's a happy time. But when it's time to go home you'll say goodbye and you will leave until you want to come back to see your grandchildren.

indescribable

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" Ps. 8:4

Our family watched this DVD today from our church library after hearing it highly recommended for months. If you want to have a glimpse, just a glimpse, of the enormity of God...we'd highly recommend it, too. One warning: you may begin to grasp how small man is, but you may also begin to experience the wonder of the love of God for His people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV1ZpSMHIQw

grandparents' day

Micah and Rachel both had Grandparents' Day at school this week. They are among a very blessed few who had both sets of grandparents in attendance, and they always love it. Eric's parents spent the better part of two days with us, and we accomplished much while they were here!

Marge just started a class to learn how to knit at her church. Both kids found her knitting and were interested in learning more.

Micah was especially intrigued to know how to knit! Where did that come from?

We attempted to make Rachel a Bolt costume for Halloween. We didn't have a pattern, but Marge knows how to sew and I can sort of draw. In spite of ourselves we think her costume turned out darling. Rachel sure loves it!

the challenge of a lifetime

Mark 8:34-35
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."

"Taking up our cross daily means to form the habit of going through our day with a certain orientation and attitude, namely, with a passion to give up our right to make ourselves the center of concern that day. Rather we live for God's kingdom, finding our place in His unfolding plan and playing our role well as we give our life away to others for Christ's sake."
-J.P. Moreland and Klaus Issler, from The Lost Virtue of Happiness

wanting to know more of God's love?

A friend shared this book title with me. I'm intrigued!
http://crazylovebook.com/

when whispers become shouts

"i love you..." whispered my two-year-old, almost inaudibly. "i love you, too," I whispered back to him, taking a moment to adore his light blond hair, blue eyes, and baby-turning-little-boy features. "I LOVE YOU!!!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "I LOVE YOU, TOO!!!" I shouted back. He giggled at hearing his mommy practically scream his favorite words at him. Then he started over again. "i love you," came the whisper. It has been a delight this week to play this new game with my son. I can't help but note that no matter how softly or loudly his words come across to me, his heart of love for me is the same.

Do we know this to be true of our relationship with our Father? There are times His love comes to us in whispers. Flowers bloom just outside the window..."i love you." A close call with another vehicle and we realize for a moment that our lives are not our own to protect but held firmly in the hands of Another. Gently sustained through difficult times, God's love is at times barely perceived by a weary, troubled heart. Sometimes life is just so hectic and loud all around us we barely notice the whispers.

Then there are times when all is still and the Voice of the Father is heard loud and clear. Curiously enough, this happens most often for me when I am quietly sitting, my Bible before me, taking time to listen and hear what He has to say. As I have read through the gospel of John the past two weeks, it is as though the Person of Jesus has leaped off the pages and taken me into the Father's arms. "I LOVE YOU!!" the words fairly shout at me. Jesus' high priestly prayer in John 17 contains phrase after phrase indicating His own people are those who have been given to Him. I find the words "given by God to Jesus" stamped across my life. Comparing John 1:1-5 with Col. 1:16 I see I am created both by and for Christ, the Eternal Creator-Redeemer and architect of my life. John 1:12-13 and 3:8 insist I am a child of God, born of the Spirit. I suddenly understand that though I often come to God with twisted thinking that He is begrudgingly allowing me into His presence, God has done something so much more wonderful than I had imagined or thought. He set His gaze on me in love long before I could or would return it, and bids me to draw nearer. "I LOVE YOU!!!"

It is too easy to keep God's love at arm's length, leaving the Bible closed thinking He is glad to have a break from us another day, not realising it is really us who are taking a break from Him. It's not that His love is not enough but that at times it is too intense, calling forth changes in our love we are not willing to admit we need. Open the pages and His word and you will discover the true heart of our Father. Whether heard in whispers or shouts, His unfathomable love is waiting to be communicated to those who will lean in to listen. When you hear it, you will never be the same. And perhaps your heart will begin to whisper back, "i love you" in response to the greatest Love the human heart will ever know.