Ruthie is our Peek-a-Poo. She is blind and deaf. Cathy and I carry her outside and stand over her as she conducts her business. Ruthie’s inability to see and hear make her vulnerable to the dangers around her. Yet she has learned that the ones who love her never leave her side.

I remember the first time my father-in-law called me son. Cathy and I were newly married, yet I still felt like an outsider to the family. My status changed, however, the moment my second dad laid claim to me. From that moment forward, I knew I was wanted, included, and loved.

Years ago, I purchased a Precious Moments figurine for my wife on Valentine’s Day. The model features a mother embracing her child affectionately. The image kindles memories in my mind of snuggling with my own mother.

The Great Commandment directs us to love in three directions: upwardly (God), outwardly (neighbor), and inwardly (one’s self). Much of Christian teaching centers on the first two objectives and largely ignores the third. To be certain, all love starts with and comes from God.

The other night, Cathy and I were searching the nighttime skies for a glimpse of the Perseids meteor shower. Sadly, we failed to see anything. Yet a wonderful thought did enter my mind.

     A robin has made her nest in one of Cathy’s flowerpots. As we stand on the front porch, we can hear the chicks peeping. Every so often, we capture a glimpse of the mother hovering over her babies, feeding them, protecting them, and nurturing them.