This morning I got some news that some people that I care about very much are suffering some harsh consequences for some poor choices they have made... this news came through a third person. Because I am unable to communicate directly with these people (being in Africa makes communication a bit tricky in certain situations) I was thinking that I wish I could talk to them; of the things I would like to say. I was feeling sad that I can't say to them "I love you, God loves you".
So with lots of prayer...and on the verge of tears...I am starting circle time for my preschoolers... we start every morning with prayer and this morning as I am preparing to start our prayer... other words come out of my mouth. God was definitely speaking to me...and I believe to the ones I love...through me.
I told my kids "Do you know that God loves you?"
They answer "yes"
Me: "do you know how much God loves you?"
Kids: mostly silence...a few say "a lot"
Me: "I want you to picture in your head something or someone that you love the most. raise your hand when you see that picture"
Kids: eyes closed...hands start to go up as they get their picture
Me: "now...feel how much you love that person or thing...feel how much it makes your heart happy"
Kids: smiling, still with their eyes closed
Me: "God loves you MORE than that! and guess what...He loves you all the time, whether you are happy or sad, whether you are being naughty or making good choices, do you know that?"
Kids: some say no and some say yes...
Me: "what if you are being naughty...does God still love you?"
Kids: "NO!" (all of them)
Me: "No? guess what... the answer is yes... He still loves you even when you are being naughty or making poor choices. What about if you are not listening to your teacher, or if you are sitting in the time out chair...does God still love you?"
Kids: like 3 or 4 "yes" and the rest "NO!"
Me: "The answer is yes again! Even if you are not listening to your teacher or you are in the time out chair...God still loves you just as much as when you are making good choices. What about this...what if you are saying mean words to a friend...what if you push your friend down and make them cry...does God still love you?"
Kids: some yell "YES!" immediately... the rest say "yes" after a few seconds.
Me: "YES!!! God always always loves you! there is never a time when He does not love you, even if you say mean words and make your friend cry He loves you just as much as when you make your friend happy."
At the end of this exchange...the kids were talking about how God loves you even when you are sad and how he protects you when you are sad and makes you feel better. I had been feeling pretty sad before this whole thing...so that was pretty amazing too.
Even as all these words were coming out...I was listening and thinking... this...THIS is what I would say to them. These are the things I would say to them.. God loves you... God loves you even though you made bad choices and HE can help you walk away from those bad choices. God is able...God is bigger... God loves you NO MATTER WHAT!
God's love for me, for them, for you is not conditional. He surely does not delight in my poor choices, and poor choices have consequences whether I follow God or not... but He does love me with a love that is beyond all others. He loves me if I am doing good, or if I am struggling and falling into sin... He loves me... always
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