By Andrea Goebel
God’s Way
Some of my favorite pictures of my daughter and husband were taken at Christmas when she was just three years old. It had been a wonderful holiday, and as it drew to a close, they relaxed together on our couch. In the pictures, she is wearing a blue Elsa gown, and her grin is so wide I can’t help but smile myself. My husband is laughing, and although I don’t remember why, I am guessing it might have something to do with the fact that I caught them having a late-night snack of my mother-in-law’s famous Chex Mix. Regardless, they both look delighted, and every time these photos pop up in my phone memories, I am reminded of their daddy-daughter bond.
They are two peas in a pod. When he teases her, she sasses right back at him. In games of strategy, they are equally competitive. She is her daddy’s girl, and I love to watch him delight in her.
Children are our greatest treasures, and as parents, our job is to love them, guide them and lead them to God. Even if they turn away from us, we still love them. It’s in our nature.
Sometimes, it’s hard to fathom that as much as we love our children, God loves all of us — even more.
1 John 3:1 reminds us, “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.”
When Jesus himself taught his disciples how to pray, he began, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9).
He doesn’t address this most meaningful prayer to a God who is distant and unapproachable, but rather, to a God who desires to spend time with us. A God who knows our every need and desire. A God who loves us more than anything.
“In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
As we grow from children into adults, our trials grow more challenging, our responsibilities become greater and our time to spend on our own pursuits dwindles. When we face difficult circumstances and struggle through hard seasons, it can be easy to convince ourselves that God doesn’t care about us and we don’t deserve his love.
Those lies couldn’t be further from the truth.
I once heard a priest discuss God’s choice to give us free will. God allows us to experience the natural consequences of our actions so that we may learn and grow. And because there is so much sin in this world, even the sins of others affect our lives, too. However, if we allow him to, he will use everything — our shortcomings and our successes, our trials and our restoration — to bring about his good.
No matter where we are in life, God is with us. Sometimes, we just have to stop, look around and witness his love for us in creation. And when we embrace his love, we are free to live out that love in the world around us and share the great love our heavenly father has for us.