Becoming a parent almost 10 years ago has brought a whole different perspective to life. (A friend recently told me, "I realized life will never be about me!") Parenting involves so much loving, so much patience, so much mercy, so much giving... endless giving... of your time, your energy, your thoughts, your emotions, your heart...
Lately I have pondered (with agony, at times!) why the human maturation process takes 18 years (and beyond)—why couldn't it be half that? I mean, a giraffe is walking ONE HOUR after it's born—and most animals are adults within a few years of birth!
But I see what God is doing here... with humans, we're life-long learners.
We don't ever "arrive"—do we. (Probably because of our free will... a blessing and a curse!) We're officially labeled "adult" at age 18, but maturation continues on and on and on...
In my mind, I have a picture of how life could be a long, sweet walk with the Lord... if we would choose to walk with Him in humility, and be OK with our failings instead of bashing ourselves (accepting His forgiveness!), and submit our will to His perfect plans (even though we walk somewhat blindly with Him and can't always see what's ahead), and let Him help us process our disappointments, our pain, our troubles... let Him give us perspective, and hope, and joy...
Oh, that we would TRUST in His love for us! That's why He came to earth—to save us, so we can live with Him forever in heaven! "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that anyone who believes in Him (Jesus) shall not perish but have everlasting life!"
So say it out loud now. (Come on, just do it!)
Jesus loves me.
Jesus loves me.
Jesus loves me.
Jesus loves me.
Jesus loves me!
He wants to walk through life with you and me—every day.
