Loving Lavishly

I love celebrating birthdays in our family. We have a tradition: to make that person feel very special. I cook their favorite foods, make a wonderful dessert, get a special gift and then watch as the whole family gathers to celebrate! Their eyes twinkle in anticipation. They have an extra bounce in their step. Their whole attitude is a little different because it is their day. A very special day. The day they were born - and into our family! Our special family; a place of love and acceptance. A place where they know they are welcome anytime. When they are up, riding the crest of success, or down, feeling depressed and downtrodden.
I believe that is how our Heavenly Father treats His children too! His word says “While we were yet sinners”, not much good for anything really, He sent Jesus, His only Son to die for us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (TLB) Wow! What lavish love the Father demonstrated to us. We are his creation and He loves us; with extreme love, generous love, lavish love!
If you want to see a grandmother giddy with extreme love just ask me about my grandsons! They are definitely the “apple of my eye.” I love taking them for a few hours and just hangin’ out. A favorite place for a six year old and three year old is, of course, McDonalds Play Area. They run and squeal and slide and bounce to their hearts content. Showing off their special skill crawling through the tunnel and coming down the slide, they yell at me to watch them and wave as they go by, happy as clams! I adore David Michael’s chocolate-brown eyes twinkling with mischief, and Benjamin, with his cherub face and bright blue eyes, how can I resist them? I just look at those two and melt with extreme and lavish love. Because they’re mine! They come from me - or an extension of me anyway! I wonder if that is how God feels when He looks down on us, His creation, His workmanship? His word says in Psalms 139 that “we are marvelously and wonderfully made.” He must be proud of his own workmanship, don’t you think? For He says “But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.” Exodus 20:6 (TLB)
And I ask,“Father do I love you to extreme? Would I rather spend time with you than anything else on earth? Do I take the time to tell you and show you by my actions how much I love you? Do I really love you “with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength” as you desire? Do I love you lavishly - as you love me?”
I want to Lord! Help me to follow your example of loving and give it all I’ve got! Loving lavishly - You, my Heavenly Father; my family, those who bring me so much joy and pleasure; friends, the wonderful people you have put into my everyday life to help and encourage me along the way, and myself too. Help me to appreciate who I am in You. Your child who is welcome at your table anytime. A child of the King! Someone of worth to You because I belong to your family, the family of God!