Six or seven years ago, my youngest son climbed excitedly into my truck after school. Pulling out a beautiful handmade clover, he couldn‘t wait to show me his art work from class that day. He began to explain everything he had learned about clovers, including the fact that four leafed clovers are rare. He then asked, “Daddy have you ever seen a four leafed clover?”

I have in fact found many such clovers. My wife has suggested that if a four leafed clover was within 100 feet of me, I would find it. It may be the only real talent I have, but for some reason they seem to stand out to me almost as if God has painted them florescent green. I used to come home with my hands full of four leafed clovers. I even found one just after proposing to my wife. She keeps it in her jewelry box, beside her rings. Each time I see it, I am reminded of that night and filled with hope as I remember how much I love and am loved.

In John 12:32, Jesus foretells being crucified when he says “as I am lifted up from the earth, I will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” Jesus‘ death on the cross bridged the gap between God and humanity. Churches have traditionally kept crosses in their worship space to visually remind us how much we are loved, and the extent to which God will go for each of us. It is so easy to take for granted God and the blessings that God gives. We need to be reminded of what Jesus endured on the cross so that we will remember that we are loved. And each time we see the empty cross, we can also be filled with hope…the hope that the best is yet to come.

I told my son that I had found many four leafed clovers, and even offered to show him the one I gave his mother when I asked her to marry me. He said, “You know they are supposed to be lucky.” I asked, “Do you think I‘m lucky?” Without hesitating he said, “Of course, I‘m your son.” And I am lucky that he is my son…and that I am God‘s. Good luck!