Have you thought about being crazy in love? Many people live cautiously, carefully and continuously miss out on the joy of loving wholeheartedly.

Watching the crazies join together and cheer their favorite teams to victory is powerful. Many of us scream and shout, jump for joy and show our undivided support for the teams we love in the heat of sports seasons. When our ‘Heels won the NCAA Championship and our ‘Canes won division playoffs in overtime, Carolina blue colored our world with sunshine here in North Carolina . I thought of how we are crazy in love with things of this world, things that will pass away. How happy Jesus would be if all His children became crazy in love with Him, cheering out loud in unison and unity that Jesus is our Lord and is coming soon, just as He promised. When we give Him our best, we become His biggest fan. Cheerleaders for Christ will never taste the bitterness of defeat, only the sweet spirit of victory in Jesus.

Surely the Lord smiled down on the wedding I wrote about last week. Love was in the air. The mother of the bride exclaimed, “everything was lovely, just as we planned!”

Often, our plans backfire; we feel betrayed and burdened. It is when we face adversity and aggravation that we rely on God’s love and leadership most of all. When we are crazy in love and enjoy an intimate relationship with our Father, we can face the tough times and accept the plan He has for our lives.

Enjoying the wedding reception was something the devil tried to take away from me. I filled my plate with goodies as I smiled and repeated James 4 over and over in my mind. My heart was a broken record as love songs filled the air and happy couples held one another tightly and danced the night away. The enemy didn’t get his way with me. Instead of being angry at God for my losses, I began praising Him for my victories — for the sweet memories of a lifetime of love and the many celebrations where we did hold one another and dance the night away. It made me smile. When Clint played ‘Love Don’t Come No Stronger Than Yours and Mine,” I thought of when I sang those words to Tim at his 50th birthday party. The devil wanted to make me mad, sad, retreating to a corner to whine in pity. Not a chance, for I know the plans my Lord has for me and I will rejoice and be glad in them. I am so thankful for the healing, hope and happiness I am given every single day by the grace and goodness of God. My tears were of joy as I praised God softly in the middle of a crowded celebration. I prayed for the people I didn’t know, asking God to bless the newlyweds, the seasoned couples who still looked so in love and those who looked like they had never loved at all — the grumps that are in every crowd who seem to believe frowning and fretting are appealing to God. Not! If only everyone could embrace joy and jubilation even in the midst of heartaches and hardships. When life gives us lemons, it’s just a thing, right J.A, make lemonade and live out loud for the Lord. As I praised God, my heart felt lighter; my love was lifted higher than the song that echoed through the room “Your love is lifting me higher than I’ve ever been lifted before!” God knew my heart, loyal, loving and crazy in love with HIM! “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” softly played and I knew in my heart that I was OK! For the things of this world really do pass away; it all ends one day. We will be somewhere over the rainbow if we live our lives in love with the Lord.

It was then that I knew I had to finish this story; God says go and we would be wise to do so. Not worrying about what people would think was a sign of freedom that I praise God for. Far too many people are bound by what others think of them.

For three hours, I sat in the corner and had a blast. I typed and talked to the Lord, drank coffee and nibbled on wedding cake, watched Clint rock the crowd and thanked God for two sons who love good music and the good Lord like their dad did. I left my computer and joined the train of happy people who weaved all around the beautifully decorated banquet hall. I felt like a part of the wedding family, not a stranger. That’s how it is with God’s love once we’ve experienced it, the love will show, we’ll want to go and pass it on instead of being grumpy and growling over everything under the sun. He is pleased when we step out in faith, love with all our hearts and recognize Him as God the Father and the Son. John 22:5 came to my mind, “...love the Lord your God, walk in his ways, obey his commands, hold fast to him and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”

The best blessing of all came at midnight when the last piece of equipment was loaded; the bride’s parents stood beside Clint and me with checkbook in hand. Clint took his pay and put it in his pocket; I took their words of praise and tucked them in my heart. They shared their respect for my son. We hugged; Clint and I headed home. The three-hour drive gave us time to talk, think and thank God for the memories we made together today. I was wide-eyed and bushy-tailed as we sipped coffee and shared plans we feel God has for our lives. I took the wheel in Whiteville and watched Clint doze, remembering all the times, as a toddler, he’d fall asleep in my arms. His dad would lift him and tuck him safely in bed. We pulled in our driveway at 3 a.m., tired and thanking God for bringing us home and for all our loved ones who are safe at home in the arms of Jesus. I stretched out in my warm bed, closed my eyes, and thanked God that I am crazy in love with life and with HIM!

If you desire this precious relationship with your loved ones and with your Lord, it’s yours for the asking, but it doesn’t just happen. You’ve got to put God first in your life, spending time with Him and then in prayer, praise, studying His Word and obeying His calling and commandments. Just remember His greatest commandment is to LOVE Him with all your heart and soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. In other words stay crazy in love with your Maker and you will live happily ever after. Amen