My eyes flutter slowly open, fighting the darkness of sleep. It is early morning, the time I speak with You. I am exhausted, sleep still laying heavy on my mind. I begin to ask if I can get up later, when I hear Your response.

I need you now.

Your small, still Voice is calm but I hear the urgency and force behind the request. A bit shocked by the emotions I feel from You, I jump out of bed and run to my prayer room. Something is wrong or You would not have asked like that.

Closing my door, I walk to my chaise and stop. Closing my eyes, I breathe and I enter our secret place in my mind's eye. An ancient tree stands before me, and the branches hold green leaves that shine green light. Cushions lay at its roots, where we have sat talking many times. To the right and past a small patch of the brightest green grass is a clear pool, fed by a towering waterfall, which sparkles if it were liquid, crystal clear diamond.

There You stand, next to the tree; Your head bowed slightly, so I do not see Your eyes. I cannot see what You are thinking.

Hesitantly, I step up next to You and softly say, "I'm here, Lord."

You say nothing, but in one swift and surprising motion, You turn, throwing Your arms around my waist, pulling me against You, and holding me tightly as if for dear life, almost knocking me off balance. Your face is buried into the crook of my neck.

I am so surprised that it takes me a moment to realize what is happening, but I wrap my arms around Your neck, returning the tight embrace, my hands finding themselves buried in Your hair.

The weight of Your emotions are so heavy, You collapse, taking me with You, and we land on the cushions. We settle with me laying higher and slightly leaning against the tree, and You lower, so You are lying almost horizontal. You bury Your face in my chest. This whole while Your embrace has not loosened once.

"Jesus?"

My voice trembles, for You have come to me before at times like this, but I have never seen You this upset. I stroke Your hair as I lay there knowing someone has hurt You. My own emotions are conflicted, for I am happy You came to me for comfort, and even would be ecstatic, if not for the fact You are hurting so very deeply.

Your response is only to squeeze me tighter, and my feeling of worry deepens.

"What happened?" I ask. A moment's pause, as thought comes. "Do You even want to speak of it?"

It takes a moment for You to reply. "...No," You say slowly, melancholic, sad, and… hurt, "...you could not bear it."

I bite my lip, my mind reeling at the idea how terrible something could be. You do not speak it, but I sense from You it is something evil and terrible that a human or humans have done. And, even though You have come to me, You will not share for You can't bear to have me hurt as well.

I rest my head on the top of Yours, cradling it, with a slight squeeze, giving as much comfort as I can. I whisper my love and praise and thankfulness to You. You who have given me everything and all of Yourself for me.

"I'm sorry," I say, feeling the need to apologize. Either in place of those who have hurt You or for the fact this is all I can give.

Knowing this, You shake Your head, still against my chest, and answer, "It is enough." I feel a slight smile form on Your lips.

I continue to whisper my love, but I find my eyes closing, and soon I am asleep. I am not sure how long I am gone, but I awake with a jolt, realizing what I had done.

You are still in my arms, but You have shifted upward so You are lying against the tree, and now my head lies on Your chest.

"I'm sorry," I say, embarrassed, looking up at You and pushing myself up. "I fell asleep when You needed me. I'm terrible. I'm so sorry. I–"

But a smile from You stops my rant. "You fell asleep in My arms." Stroking my cheek with the backs of Your fingers, You add, "Thank you."

My eyes widen as I blush, understanding what was not spoken. "You're… welcome…" I whisper, as You lean in and bring our lips together.

Our thoughts are one. I love you.

Many do not realize how much the Lord actually needs our love. (I just made someone unhappy with that statement, but hear me out.) He has made us in His Image; He has emotions just as we do, in fact more so. His capacity to feel love and pain is much more than us since He is Infinite. We are His family. We bring Him comfort and love, just as He brings us them. We have a relationship with Him. A healthy relationship does not consist of one only receiving and the other only giving. Everything is reciprocal. We give back to Him what He gives us.