![]() When my son was just three weeks old, I had already made up my mind. No one asked me. No life and death dilemma presented itself, but I knew: I would give my life for this precious little hand wrapped around mine. As moms, we do just that. Every day, we lay down our lives. We sacrifice our food, our free time, our agenda (I don't even know the last time I completed a task from start to finish without stopping to derail the crazy train- aka my two year old- that was threatening to demolish my house.) We sacrifice our frilly hair styles, our personal hygiene, our date nights, our wardrobe...you name it, and we have sacrificed it in the name of motherhood, and if it came to it, I am sure there is no doubt that we would give our last breath if that's what was needed to save our little ones. Thankfully, the in and out sacrifices of every day life don't usually cost us that much. Last week, it was a Ninja Turtle Party. Yes. Ninja Turtles. Cowabunga dude! My little guy requested it, so I made it happen. I combed Pinterest for hours. We made slime. We made sewer ooze punch. I was up till midnight cutting out turtle masks and making Ninja Turtle paper lanterns. I dragged the kids all over kingdom come buying party decorations and snacks. My son was a willing participant in all of this. He and his sister carefully selected foam swords and carried them to the checkout counter. He carried bolts of fabric to the counter in the craft store. He told everyone he was having a "Ninja Turtle Party!" He loaded and unloaded bags from the car, and helped me print food labels. The excitement was tangible. The party was off the chain. Literally. The kids were running wild. Great fun was had by all. Including me. I mean- Hello! I got to wear my Ninja Turtle Shirt! We even made cookie pizzas! Oh the insanity!!! So what is the point? The point is that our small sacrifices- our insane craftiness and hours of dedication spent making sure their big day is just right (something they will never even really appreciate until they are parents themselves...and even then, the boys probably won't have a clue) all of that is just a small representation of how your God feels about you, of what he has sacrificed to make sure your special day (aka ALL of them) are JUST RIGHT. That lay-your-life-down-self-sacrificing-love is God's love. It comes straight from His heart. Ever notice how good it feels to do something good for someone else even when it costs you? That good feeling is a God feeling. A lot of us have heard John 15:13, ""Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice when He willingly laid down His life and allowed Himself to be crucified for our wrongdoings. Most of us have heard that before. Sometimes we "yeah, yeah" it away. But Jesus didn't just die for us. He lived for us. He ever-lives for us, constantly praying for us at the Father's right hand. (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25) Not only that- His thoughts toward you are innumerable. Psalm 40:5 says, "Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered." What's more: YOU are His delight. Psalm 16:3 says, "As for the saints who are on the earth, "They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight." YOU are His child. If you have accepted Him as your Savior and asked Him to be your Father, YOU are His excellent one, and HE DELIGHTS IN YOU. If you haven't, He longs for you. He wants to call you His own. He gave his life, so you could be His. That heart beating in your chest- the one that is more excited than they are when you have a surprise for them, the one that doesn't mind giving up that last bite of dessert, the one that prays over their little heads long after they have been sleeping on the pillow, the one that dreams big dreams for them and prays God's grace will cover your shortcomings as a parent, the one that is flooded with innumerable thoughts for your babies- even when they are 25- that heart, is His heart. He gave it to you. And it's only a fraction of how He feels about you. So tonight, when you lay your head down, whenever that may be, close your eyes and dream the dreams He has for you. And when you awake, feel His Heart beat as your own. |
AuthorI am a wife, mom, teacher, writer, and photographer who sees everyday as an adventure in learning to live in God's grace. Join me, The Grace-Full Lady- and we can learn together! Follow me on Twitter!
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