Day after day, the loving father came to the hospital, often with flowers in his hand. He would sit beside the bed of his comatose 6-year-old daughter, talking to her about the wonderful world outside her window. Sometimes he would tell her a story. But in her unconscious state, the only sound she ever made was her labored breathing.

One day her nurse, touched by the father's unrewarded faithfulness, ventured to say, "It must be hard giving so much love when she's like this."

He quickly responded, "I'm going to keep on coming and bringing flowers and telling her stories even if she's oblivious to it because I love her whether or not she loves me back."

What a tender and poignant picture of God's love! Patiently, untiringly, He is in love with us. We may be unaware of His presence, as though we are spiritually comatose. But we don't have to be that way. What our loving Lord said to the church of Laodicea He says to each of us: "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Rev. 3:20).

Today, as always, God is reaching out to you. Respond now to the love that won't quit loving.  — Vernon C. Grounds