I have three posters that have popular 'love' quotes:

"Once you have found love, hold it to your heart and never let it go."

"The love in your heart wasn't put there to stay; love isn't love, 'til you give it away."

"If you love something, set it free.  If it comes back, it's yours; if it doesn't, it was never meant to be."

(Of course, the word 'something' can be replaced by 'someone'.)

But, though all of the quotes seem very touching, don't they contradict one another? One quote says to never let it go, and another says to set it free.

An artist attempts to capture the 'person' as they let it go ...freeing the expression of what they see.

It's often difficult to describe a person.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  This is a picture that was drawn at a mall, when my wife was obviously not yet my wife ...but, a young little version of my present sweetheart, a 'sweetie' to Dad & Mom.

Yes, it's worth a thousand words ...she's one in a million. But really only a few words matter.  I could say those few simple words:  "I love you!!!"  

But those aren't the words that matter the most.  The few words that are most important are those words that are written in the 'Book of Life'.

I'm as certain that her name is written there ...as I am of mine.

If it's a horse, a bird, or a stray dog ...perhaps if you set it free, it may come back. But, that will not necessarily be the best policy for dealing with children.

And God doesn't take that approach either.  He tries to draw us near, and does not let us go ...as He keeps after us.  He doesn't set us free.  But, we do choose ...and though He keeps after us, we don't always acknowledge that, or accept it.  None of us would want our loved ones to be excluded from the "Book of Life". Shouldn't we want to be free to tell them about Jesus?  How can we deny the existence of what Jesus said:

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’  But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’  He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’  Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’  ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’  He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”   (Luke 16:19-27)

We are all broken vessels.  D.L. Moody said, "The easiest way to keep a broken vessel full is to keep the faucet running constantly."

We need to come to the obedience of Jesus, as A.W. Tozer said, "To escape the error of salvation by works we have fallen into the opposite error of salvation without obedience."

Our children don't like Math ...and when I was in school, I didn't like Accounting.  I like the fact that I don't have to be accountable for all my sins, and that Jesus takes care of the books.  But, I also know He wants me to learn some things ...some things that I don't want to learn, yet it's part of my curriculum for life.  Out of loving obedience to Him, I need to realize ...accept...and commit to what He wants me to learn.  I should not shirk that responsibility. 

Jesus 'gave' His life ...and He rose from the dead.  Are we convinced of it?  Do we pay attention to all of what Jesus said? Are we in agreement with Him ...as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are in agreement with each other? What does it mean to be with Him?  I could never describe how much that means to me, my wife, and our children.  Let me just just say, I am eternally grateful.