Here’s a question for you, “How often do you experience being enjoyed and delighted in by others? Years ago, in high school, Campus Crusade for Christ had several adult staff who invested their lives helping high school kids become student leaders. After graduating high school, the staff took a group of us, during mid summer, to Arrowhead Springs, Ca for a week long leadership training.  During the break times from studies and classes, a group of guys would play aggressive games of basketball while inhaling the smoggy air.  To our surprise there were girls we didn’t know who were cheering us on. During a smog recovery break, I went over to talk  a couple of girls cheering us on. As we talked, I found out that Sheryl and Cheryl were good friends who went to the same high school about 300 miles from where I lived.  After the basketball game was over, Sheryl came up to me and said, “Cheryl likes you and wants to get your phone number.” Surprised, I said okay and walked to where Cheryl was.  We exchanged phone numbers, and departed for home two days later.

That fall I started college.  Cheryl and I also started a long distant dating relationship. About once a month I would fly or drive to where she lived.  When ever she saw me her eyes would light up accompanied with a big smile and inviting hug.  Being delighted in and enjoyed gave a rise of hope within my heart.  I delighted and enjoyed her as well.  We went on adventures together in her home town. She introduced me to her friends. We had several long talks.  After 3 months of seeing each other and weekly talks on the phone, she told me about a job opportunity in her town and would I be interested in applying for it.  I jumped on the opportunity.  She knew the director of the program and was sure that I would get the job.

For the first time in my life I began to understand what love was, and I was developing a love for this person. The hope inside, “somebody really cares about me.”  What a powerful experience for a young man who learned from his own family that you don’t talk, don’t think, and don’t feel.  I felt free to be me in this relationship, I didn’t worry about impressing her.  Hope in relationship grows between two people when moments of being delighted in, enjoyed, loved, listened to, understood take place and/or when you know someone cares about who you are. Prov. 13:12 says, “… a fulfilled desire is a tree of life.”  No doubt, this new relationship felt like a tree of life.  This relationship brought hope that I’d never know before.  Somebody truly loves me for who I am.  What I didn’t see is that through her life God was giving me a glimpse of the love He has for my heart.