As I write this my kids have been away at camp for nine days already and I have received all of two letters. Yep – just two. Between three kids! I figured out if they each wrote everyday (like I do 😉 ) that would be a total of 27 letters by now!
Seriously, it’s fine. Based on a previous track record I knew ahead of time that one wouldn’t write at all. That child didn’t even want stationery in the trunk and considering there were still stamped envelopes in there from three years ago, I decided it was time to hand those over to a different child.
Now the other two normally do write, but according to me daughter’s letter I think she is taking advantage of her rest time to get her Bolivian counselor’s help with her huge AP Spanish packet, due when school starts back! The other one – I assume is writing and drawing in his journal because that is what he likes to do, but who knows with him.
What I love though is both who wrote signed their letters as “Your Favorite Child.” They have given themselves this title, but I’m glad they feel such love and security that they live according to the status. Because you know what?
This is how we should live as children of God. We are all God’s Favorite Child!
All of us! He doesn’t favor one over the other because one is a better Christian, does more good works or hasn’t committed certain sins. Nope – all of His children are His favorite children!
I had never thought about this until reading a chapter in Kay Wyma’s book I’m Happy for You (Sort of…Not Really) on “finding contentment in a culture of comparison” – a book I’ve shared once before here.
In the book she quotes author Henri Nouwen as saying:
“Our God…does not compare. Never… I cannot fathom how all of God’s children can be favorites. And still, they are… God loves with a divine love, a love that cedes to all women and men their uniquenss without ever comparing.”
How amazing is that!
In our humanness that is hard to comprehend when we seem to not be able to not compare! That is, after all, how favorites are chosen- comparing one to the other. And I’m not talking about children, it’s how we decide our favorite anything. Favorite shoes, favorite food, favorite vacation. We compare and contrast to determine which one is better or best.
But how would it change things for you if you knew God is not comparing and contrasting you to your neighbor? To your Bible study friend? To the room mom? Nor is He comparing the addict who slipped up again or your spouse whose sin is seemingly so much greater than yours ;0 to you.
- Wouldn’t it eliminate the striving to be good enough?
- Wouldn’t it help you rest knowing you are okay just as you are?
- Wouldn’t it help you believe that it’s not about what we do, but what He did for us?
- Wouldn’t it also convict us of our pride by pointing out the ways we think we are better because of what we do or don’t do?
So back to the “What If” game that I introduced in a recent post:
What if we lived as if we were God’s favorite child?
Wouldn’t that be freeing?!
