A particular little human in our home has been prone to temper tantrums during this precious season of her toddler life. These outbursts are fierce, passionate, Oscar-worthy explosions of preschool anger-usually in response to the denial of something this wee one wants. Toys are thrown. "No's" are yelled. And floors are slapped. All in an effort to express how truly disappointed she is with our decision to withhold something from her little hands.
Well as I stood and stared in a dumb-founded and exhausted state the other day, watching an innocent baby doll soar across the room as loud squeals of defiance were hurled loudly enough to alert the whole neighborhood of our dramatic squabble, I felt God urge me to just pick up this little one and hug her. I certainly knew it was His promoting because my fleshly instinct was to sit that child down and explain to her (with the help of the spanking spoon) how we are expected to behave in this house. But in that moment, the urge to hug her won me over.
So I did. And it's not easy to grab hold of an angry bee when all she wants to do is sting you.
But I sat down anyway and scooped that buzzing bee right up into my lap, rocked her back and forth, and tried to squeeze all my love into to her anxious little body. I squeezed and squeezed and squeezed as she kicked and screamed and squirmed. But finally, after my muscles were tired and both of our faces were good and covered with tears, I felt that feisty bumble bee ease up and rest in my arms without resistance.
We rocked. I wiped her face with my sleeve. We rocked some more. I told her I loved her. We rocked some more. And eventually, she stood up and continued playing as if nothing had happened.
Even as I'm reliving this episode, I'm tempted to doubt my decision to hug instead of punish because that seems to be a more "justified" response to poor behavior. But again, I feel God gently guide my heart to peace as He brings this scripture to mind:
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8 NLT)
There are certainly times when we need to discipline our children with tough consequences. And there are certainly times when we need to hold each other accountable for poor choices and destructive behavior. But I'm starting to realize that love, in its purest form, means offering it whole-heartedly, especially when its not deserved, and with no expectations of having it returned.
The world will call that naive. The world will call that illogical. The world will call that weak. But let's call that Jesus. Because that's exactly how He loves us.
When we're angry and harmful with our stingers out because something doesn't go our way, He loves us.
When we're consumed with getting what we deserve rather than giving what he desires, He loves us.
When we wrestle with whether or not we even believe in Him, He loves us.
He went to the cross, fully aware that we would deny Him, hate Him, and mock Him. But He went anyway. He knew in His heart that we were worth dying for. And above all, He wants us to believe that to our core.
He wants us to know that He will always be there, cradling us in His lap, wiping our tears as we hit and scream and kick and complain. He'll just keep squeezing and squeezing and squeezing until we finally rest in His arms without resistance.
He wants us to know that He will always be there, cradling us in His lap, wiping our tears as we hit and scream and kick and complain. He'll just keep squeezing and squeezing and squeezing until we finally rest in His arms without resistance.
Pure, true love is not logical. It's not popular. It's not fair. And it's certainly not easy. But pure, true love is what changes hearts. And when we can learn to rest in God's perfect love, we can let down our guards and expectations about the earthy love we feel we deserve. We can stop focusing on our feelings and we can allow God to lead our hearts to love how He loves us-lavishly, infinitely, unconditionally, and unapologetically.
Before we do anything else, let's just linger here and allow our hearts to believe these truths. Let's not move from where we are in this moment until we are convinced that God believes we are worth it. Let's sit here, soaking in the beautiful, piercing truth that a perfect man loves us so much that He willingly laid down His life for us-and that He would willingly do it all over again. All because He loves us. And oh, how He loves us.
Can I pray with you?
Lord, you know me inside and out. You know all my yuckiness and you love me anyway. You know I have strayed and will stray again-but you love me still. Please help me be so consumed by this truth-so aware of your love right here, right now-that I am filled to the brim with the power of your embrace and your presence. Fill me up with You so I can pour You out to others. Show me people in my life who are craving true love and allow me to offer it freely to them as you so abundantly offer it to me. Thank you, Lord, for meeting me here and loving me like only You can. In Jesus' name we pray-Amen.
As you continue to let these truths seep into your heart, here's a poignant reminder to stir your soul : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCunuL58odQ
Before we do anything else, let's just linger here and allow our hearts to believe these truths. Let's not move from where we are in this moment until we are convinced that God believes we are worth it. Let's sit here, soaking in the beautiful, piercing truth that a perfect man loves us so much that He willingly laid down His life for us-and that He would willingly do it all over again. All because He loves us. And oh, how He loves us.
Can I pray with you?
Lord, you know me inside and out. You know all my yuckiness and you love me anyway. You know I have strayed and will stray again-but you love me still. Please help me be so consumed by this truth-so aware of your love right here, right now-that I am filled to the brim with the power of your embrace and your presence. Fill me up with You so I can pour You out to others. Show me people in my life who are craving true love and allow me to offer it freely to them as you so abundantly offer it to me. Thank you, Lord, for meeting me here and loving me like only You can. In Jesus' name we pray-Amen.
As you continue to let these truths seep into your heart, here's a poignant reminder to stir your soul : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCunuL58odQ
