oh, he loves

Every morning this little girls wakes up, looks down at her dirty hands, glances in the mirror at her ragamuffin hair, and notices the still healing wounds on her busted knees and says, “I am guilty, dad.I did it. I’m so dirty. I’m sorry.”

And every morning, without fail, when she looks up, He is smiling, arms outstretched, and says, “I know, cutie. You are such a mess, but you’re my mess and we’re working on you, aren’t we? I think you are just great and I love you so much.” He sweeps her up in His arms and gives her the greatest squeeze you’ve yet to receive in your life.

Every. Damn. Day.

He greets her just this way.

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This is the photo that navigates my day-to-day. I am a visual learner and thinker. My creative, introspective, highly-sensitive brain plays movies and writes words constantly.

This is how I learn.

The photo above is by illustrator Jago from a children’s devotional called, “Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing,” by Sally Lloyd-Jones.

This book is one of my most favorite gifts that I have ever received. I volunteer at my church with children for so many reasons. One of those is that their messages, their music, the simplicity of each point is, well, straight-forward and simple. And my heart, in this world that tends to over complicate even grace, appreciates the reprieve from the confusion.”

“…“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” {Matthew 18:3} 

[Do we get grace like children?]

This is the picture that plays out in my mind when I talk to God for a plethora of reasons. In my brain this Father, Daddy, He comes alive and talks to me. 

And that little girl, me…well, she no longer looks worried or afraid.

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Sometimes I get ahead of myself, excited for the glimpses of heaven God gives me and–like that little girl–I go running all around the room, too excited to bother with instruction, “Are we going to play dress up? Or are we cooking today? Do we get to make a clay pot? Are we drawing? We’re painting aren’t we!? I just know it! We’re painting! Oh, no. We’re coloring? Are we coloring? Are we going to ride bikes? Does Suzy get to come too?” And she runs around the room trying to figure out what happens next, holding up paint brushes, dresses, and cars giddy with the possibilities.

In this, God leans back in His chair and smirks, amused at her attempt to figure out His will and His beautiful plan for her day and her life.

Then, sometimes God pulls out what looks to be a chalkboard and, though He continues to watch her prance around, still attentive (because God is always paying attention), He begins to draw something. There is no telling how long she runs around the room before her eyes catch something on the wall that was not there before. 

It’s a picture. He drew it. This is His gift for today, a small glimpse into the treasures He has for her in her future. 

She stops. Jaw drops. She whispers, “no way… that’s impossible.” He walks up behind her and places His hand on her shoulder, “yes little one, it’s going to be very great.”

I don’t know what that picture is for you. Maybe it is the picture of security of who you are, who you were designed to be that has been elusive up until this point in your life. Maybe it is the picture of you feeling good in your own skin. Maybe it is you set free from anxiety and worry over what is going to happen next in your life. Maybe it is the visual representation of you knowing, way down to your toes knowing, how absolutely loved, adored, and forgiven you are. Or maybe it’s a dream that you have written off. Maybe God is calling you to a story bigger than the play-it-safe-one you’re living now.

I don’t know what it is, but I am guessing that you do.

I hope today that you will stop and stare and that chalk art God has hung on the wall for you. He thinks you’re awesome and His love for you is amazing.

But if not…if you can’t even get to the picture for the shame, feelings of guilt, or whatever it is that you have allowed to  keep you in bondage…

…let’s back up for a second. Can you imagine what your life would be like if you simply began your day like that little girl? 

“I’m guilty. I’m imperfect. I cannot do enough. I am sorry.”

And then can you imagine the overwhelming JOY and RADICAL FREEDOM you would feel if you believed that the God you believe in and talk to is the same Father God in this story and that He responds the same way every morning?

In the name of all things that make you happy…THAT’S BETTER!

There is a lot of bad in the world. There is immeasurable suffering and heartache. There is overwhelming pain.

You do not need me here to know this.

But do you know that we need you?

The best thing you can do for the world is SHOW UP BIG AND BRAVE, RADICALLY FREE, AND UNCONDITIONALLY, UNIQUE YOU. 

We need you. We need you and the unique manifestation of Him in you.