He loves me...He loves me not...


He loves me…He loves me not… Do you remember how as a child we would pull the leaves off of a daisy one at a time saying those phrases in hopes of finding out that we were loved by the object of our affection? Of course there was no scientific proof or any emotional truth to the game, but it did provide us with an element of hope that if there were just the right number of petals on the flower we could be worthy of love.

Isn’t it comforting to know that God’s love for us is not fickle or by chance? God’s love for us is unconditional, just because that is who He is. This was demonstrated to me a couple of weeks ago when my grandson Will and I went to see a kid’s movie called Open Season and afterwards, I was the target. He was hitting me and poking me and using me as a punching bag. (By the way he does not do it necessarily to hurt me, but it is one of the ways that he shows love, however, he needs to learn more gentle ways.) But the real kicker happened when I leaned over to pick up the trail mix that had spilt on the floor of The Vilar Center for Performing Arts and I was sat on by a six year old boy—my grandson. A swat or two or more was given to the culprit. Then a standoff ensued. 

Will would not speak to me in the car on the way home. After arriving at home, he was hiding in a corner of the bathroom, when I approached him and told him that no matter what he did to me I would still love him. He could hit me…he could punch me… he could yell at me and he could even tell me that he didn’t like me. That would not change the way that I feel about him, because he is mine and I will always love him. 

That’s when the light bulb went off—that’s exactly the way God feels about me. I am disobedient at times and He doesn’t like my actions, but it doesn’t change the way He feels about me. No matter what I say or do, my Father will always love me, because I am His. His love for me does not change. I don’t have to earn it. I don’t have to perform for it. I don’t have to change in order to receive it. God is not wishy-washy, loving at one moment but withholding it the next. Since God loves me regardless of my behavior, it makes me desire to please Him. 

So instead of saying He loves me; He loves me not, to find out if God loves me I can just simply say over and over and over again He loves me…He loves me…He loves me because that is a fact that will not change. 

Psalm 103:17-18
But from everlasting to everlasting
   the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
   and his righteousness with their children’s children—  with those who keep his covenant
   and remember to obey his precepts.

Comments

Margaret said…
Oh, what a night! Will is so blessed to have you as his grandmother. You love unconditionally, Mom, and we're all thankful for that!
August 8, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Greg Brooks said…
thank Him for His words 1 Corinthians 13:4
August 8, 2011 at 12:43 PM
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