Funny how a word can hit you new when you really stop to sit with it, let the letters and sound fall over a heart. Chip away a bit at its layers.
Beloved.
It’s always been one of my favorites, and I’ll admit that when Michael chooses it from among all other names and writes it with its rounded edges and upright “l,” attaching it to my name, the inside of me does sway and settle down deep.
It’s the name of a favorite book by Toni Morrison that I devoured in college, and when I read it, something in me knew again that I wanted to try and write, to mold word pictures from clay while leaving spaces between the seen and those things of the air and spirit which are not.
Surely, there is the kind of love that does, and if there existed a word in our language for the one who’s been the recipient of that active kind of loving, it might be “doloved,” and you’d know when you’d done been “doloved.”
But to “be loved.” Beloved. Whether the girls remember to make their mama a Valentine, whether I feel loved in the moments when Michael and I struggle to decide on a place to eat out and bicker at 4:30 on a Valentines afternoon, the truth is that I am loved.
I’m thinking of the gold circles imprinted with my girls’ initials on the necklace given me by my sister because she knew how much I’d love it for how much I love them. I love wrapping this around my neck, keeping their letters right close to the place of pounding, beating, being.
And maybe it’s like that for God — our initials strung one pounded circle after another all the way round, close to the place his heart beats love.
Joining up again today with the Five Minute Friday community of friends over at Lisa-Jo‘s where we write for five minutes, refrain from extreme editing and encourage one another freely. Today began with the prompt: BELOVED.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
Beloved thou ist! :)
And thou as welst!
Perfect!
Thank you for visiting, WesAnna.
Hi dear Ashley
Oh, I feel your yearning to put life into the “be” part of Beloved. Just that quietness and confidence living in Him allowing Him through His grace to be the source of our life! Oh, let us not fall into that doloved mentality!
Much love and hugs to you
Mia
Yes, I am so trying (that even seems the wrong word) to live into the “be” part of beloved. I hear that echo in you, too, friend. Thank you for hearing my heart.
My name close to God’s heart… Oh my, getting all leaky here… thank you friend.
Thank you, Tonya, for sharing your response with me. How that blesses.
You, the sculptor, for the reasons beloved is one of my favorite words, too, Ashley. So amazing how one word says it ALLLLLL.
Doesn’t beloved say so very much?!
Yes, it does! It says ALLLLLLL.
Awesome Ashley!!! I also love that word.. “Beloved”.
It’s one of those that I need to really sit in — for much longer than five minutes. :)
Oh sweet one, your heart just beats to multi-syllabic word as does your wondrous prose. You fill me up with all good things. Thanks for sharing your jouyful spirit, always.
Bless you, friend, and thank you for the blessing you are.
I love the idea of my initials near God’s beating heart. Thanks for that. (I also love Toni Morrison…it was tough to write about this word without reliving that book!)
Another Toni Morrison lover! So much good in the folds and lines, ins and outs of her words. The symbolism, the strength, the characters….I need to pick up some Morrison again soon. It’s been too long. :)
I love the idea that each of us are held near our Father’s Heart….Beloved! :)
‘
Yes, you are!
Aww this is beautiful!! And what a thought our names pounded in circles around God close to His heart! I did have to laugh because the mister and I had a tiff on Valentine’s morning:) Thank you for this beautiful post!
I’m glad we’re not alone! :) Thank you for your presence here, Jennifer.
Great stirring post again Ashley.
I like how I have to read your posts slowly and deliberate.
A welcome slow down in the one click, scan, comment, world of the on-line sphere.
Cheers,
Leah
Thank you, Leah. What a beautiful compliment. I so appreciate you saying so, and I am thankful you choose to share this space with me — of all the places in the great wide on-line.
I agree with Leah… I need to read and savor your words. So grateful for the way you speak truth and make me WANT to live like His BELOVED. Beautiful, friend! Beautiful! Hope your Valentine’s Day was filled with grace.
Alicia, bless you. We need to be reminded, don’t we, that we are his beloved, and then inspired from there, as you say, to live like it? Seems we’ve got to know before we do, or we’re just spinning our performing, striving wheels and getting nowhere closer to the heart of God. Thank you for being here, friend.
Sweet Tiggie, Wow, this blows your Papa away! I love the way you chose to make “Beloved” so intimate and uniquely yours. I can say with a thankful heart how ‘beloved’ you are by me. You are in the Pantheon of the caring, loving, compassionate, giving and forgiving. I love and respect you.I revel in the pride I feel. Always with love, Papa
Sweet Papa, your words mean so much. Thank you. I’ve always felt beloved by you. :) I suppose I feel like beloved means nothing if it’s not for me. I know that may sound selfish, but unless I truly receive that I am loved, I can’t really live like one who is. I treasure you.
Dear Ashley. I just had to come on here and say that I just read the above comment by you Dad & it made my heart swell. Just sitting here now with my tears and full heart marveling at the preciousness…
I can’t wait to spend some time with my beloved friend this weekend. Miss you!
My darling friend — cannot wait to see you this weekend! Bring on the talking, crying, laughing marathon. I love you!
Ashley=Beloved. You and this sacred word just go together…
I could swim in your words, my friend…they lull me and wake me up at the same time.
So full of love for you, my dear friend.
Wow. Thank you, precious Julia. How your words bless me. I love you, too!
Aww, beautifully described Ashley
Thank you, dear Deb.