I apologize for the abhorrent quality of the video capture. But wow. Go ahead and grab a handkerchief. This goes down in my book as one of the most powerful scenes in all of Downton Abbey. But it’s a quiet sort of powerful, and easy to gloss over in the midst of the drama of the show’s more glamorous characters.

For those that are unfamiliar with this iconic series, let me give you some backdrop. Daisy is a kitchen maid in a grand, English estate. Even for a maid, she’s at the bottom of the totem pole; she’s not considered particularly well educated (though as the seasons go by, we get to see how smart and ambitious she is!), or well bred. She enters into a deathbed marriage with her close friend and footman William, who has just returned from serving in World War I. Their marriage lasts for less than 24 hours, and after his death, she is tormented with the sense that she only married him to oblige his dying wish, and that it was never a “real marriage.” Even before becoming a war widow, Daisy had a low opinion of herself. Though others recognized her marriage to William as a heroic act of love and affection, she fails to see any noble qualities within herself or that gesture, and falls deeper into self-loathing. She reluctantly keeps in contact with William’s father, Mr. Mason, and shortly after, the touching scene you just witnessed unfolds. Just watch Daisy’s face light up as the rays of love begin to warm her heart. She has an epiphany, and she’s finally able to see herself through the eyes of Love.

I, too, am guilty of shrinking from the supreme Love of the Father. The reality of my spiritual adoption perplexes and embarrasses me. I’m so undeserving! I haven’t earned it! Why choose me? I’m nothing special, nothing worth loving. But then the Father says to me “Let me take you into my Heart and make you special!” Isn’t being “special” at the heart of being loved? Out of all of ideas racing through the mind of God, He decided that you were a very good one (Genesis 1: 31). The Father continually beholds us in our uniqueness and finds us worthy of love inasmuch as He has deemed us worthy to receive the sacrifice of His only begotten Son.

Mr. Mason is really the driving force behind this beautiful relationship with Daisy. Daisy, in her emotionally immaturity and shame makes excuses to avoid going to his farm, or corresponding with him. Instead of being receptive to his love, she put up walls. She felt somehow that she never truly loved his son, and because of that, that she couldn’t really claim him as a Father-in-law. Are we not the same? Yet the Heavenly Father sees the little love we pour out open his Son, and even if our motives aren’t perfect, receives it with great joy.

Perhaps William not only knew that his dad needed someone to continue to be a spiritual father to, but that Daisy, having never received love from her biological parents, needed to be pursued by a tender, fatherly heart.  To love as a Father is not merely what God does–it’s who He is! Beautiful one, may you let the Father take you into his heart and make you special today and always.