It flourished once in the Garden, the flawless connection between people and their Maker. Man and woman. Human and creature. When God strolled in a paradise shaped by His hand and invited the two to meet with Him in the cool of the evening.
Relationship.
Loved perfectly day after day, the man and woman communed with God. They knew Him intimately, rejoicing at the sound of His voice.
This first couple was designed to love unconditionally. Serving and giving without reservation or selfish inclination. Chosen for one another, the couple delighted in life. The feel of heart clasped to heart. The sweet taste of honey sliding down the back of the throat. The sound of Heaven’s footstep touching earth.
Beasts of all shapes and sizes roamed the Paradise, unafraid. Powerful lions brushed affectionately against the legs of man while birds lit on trees to sing over the two lovers.
But, sin.
That first betrayal of human soul casting off eternal hope for a singular moment of grainy sweetness on tongue shattered pure, beautiful relationship. Stripped the man and woman of innocence. Produced a chasm between the Creator and his earthly children. Corrupted a holy, God-ordained marriage with self. Self-interest. Self-seeking. Self-gratification. And, introduced death and difficulty into the lives of untold generations.
One can almost hear the mutual intake of breath as the heavenly host watch Eve’s teeth puncture the tender flesh of the fruit; its wetness dripping sticky sweet on her chin. Perhaps the heavenly messengers moan aloud as Adam, too, lifts the Forbidden to his mouth. Its scent, coupled with the invitation of his wife’s eye, dare him to indulge.
Just. One. Bite.
Then, God.
There was no surprise in the insurrection. No thwarted plan. With a nod, the Godhead agrees. The first Adam will not be the last and Holy blood will one day make man innocent again. Relationship will be restored.
Because, Jesus.
His sandaled feet strolled in another Garden nearly 2,000 years ago. For three years, he’d called men and women to Him. Healing the sick. The desperate. The dying. Freeing those bound by chains of discouragement. Desperation. Despondence.  And, now? He knelt in prayer before being lifted high on the tree–the final, complete sacrifice of innocence  that man and woman might again exist in relationship with the Maker.
Unbroken. Eternal. Abiding.
Before the beginning He chose relationship with us. We do not follow a list of do’s and don’t that lead us to heaven. No jot nor tittle of prescribed religion offers sanctification or eternal life. It is only in relationship with Jesus that men and women discover the beauty of Paradise promised.
Someday, heaven.
Blessings,
Tammy
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)
A Holy Relationship Resource for You
In the business of living out our roles as women, it can be challenging to make space for the most important relationship of all–our Father-daughter relationship. Friends, I’m not always the most successful at prioritizing Jesus in my life, but I long to walk alongside Him in this life and on the other side of heaven.
Click here for fatherdaughterprintable for a graphic of 5 Ways to Make Your (Heavenly) Father-daughter Relationship a Priority.  Post it on your bathroom mirror, tuck it in a diaper bag, or clip it to your car’s visor. Read it when you need a bit of encouragement to spend time with Jesus.

• 
• 

Also linking up at Imparting Grace (here).