* No Less Love

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Luke 11:9-12 NLT

I spent the entire day with my youngest granddaughter, Abby. They call it babysitting, daycare, whatever. I call it love in its purest form. It was the best day on several counts, but the two most important are; One - I love being with her. I don't care where it is or what we're doing, I just love being with Abby. And two - God illustrated some real truths for me.

This may be the most basic of understandings and you might wonder how I didn't get this until now, but maybe it's because someone else also needs the reminder of the basics...

I have discovered that my perfect little granddaughter is not perfect. She has a temper and a very strong will. That does NOT make me love her less. If anything, it allows me to love her more and prove it by guiding her in the right direction. She cannot purchase or prepare her own food or drink. She can only feed herself finger food snacks (if I get them from the pantry and dole them out for her). She makes a mess in her diapers and needs to be changed frequently. That does NOT make me love her less. She's still crawling. She can pull herself up on anything and climbs well. She has learned how to stand but will stumble or fall when she tries to walk alone. 

I must appoint times for her to rest and isolate her from distractions and the noise and cares of this world so she may do so. I comfort her even when it's me she's angry with (because I didn't answer her plea the way she wanted it to be answered). That does NOT make me love her less. 

She needs constant supervision because she will get into everything - and some of it even AFTER she's been told 'no'. That does NOT make me love her less, either. Nor does any of it make me want to spend less time with her. 

And if I - being sinful - know how to do these things for my granddaughter and still love her with a love that defies description, HOW MUCH MORE will our heavenly Father do all this and more for each of His children?

Prayer:

Father,
         Forgive us for all those times we didn't recognize Your love in action. Open our eyes to see, our ears to hear and our hearts to receive and believe Your love for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen