Our Father's Lavish Love
When I was five, my parents divorced. In my limited time with Dad, his love significantly impacted my life. He spent every waking moment with me during our weekends together. We enjoyed cooking, celebrating special days, and playing together. He would pull up a dining chair so I could stand beside him at the stove, making our favorite spaghetti sauce. "Okay, Charlaine, add the oregano," he said as he stirred, and I poured it in.
It was fun when he lifted me onto his shoulders and walked through the house. He'd stoop as he passed through doorways so I wouldn't hit my head. "Giddyup, Daddy!" I squealed, hugging his neck.
I felt like Daddy's princess on special days. For my birthday, he bought me a beautiful cake, delighted to sing "Happy Birthday" to me as I blew out the candles. At Christmas, we scouted our perfect Christmas tree and decorated it with sparkling ornaments and tinsel. I stood on the stairway, mesmerized by the lights reflecting off the ornament in my hand, reaching high into the tree.
When I misbehaved, Dad stooped down at my eye level, gently held my shoulders, expressed his disappointment, and told me how to improve. His disapproval made me cry. I didn't want to upset Daddy. His love for me was secure, leaving a positive mark on my life.
Most of all, since home life at Mom's house wasn't always good, he watched out for my welfare.
Do you know God loves us even more than my Dad loved me? In 1 John 3, we read that God, our Heavenly Father, loves us immensely. The word lavish to me means God's immense love for us is priceless, immense. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, God's priceless, immense love allows us to become His children (John 3:16-18). Jesus also rose from the dead to offer us a new life here and eternal life with God after we die (Matthew 28:20). Because we are His children, He blesses us beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21). He even delights in us (Psalm 119:14)!
My father wasn't perfect since my family floundered in dysfunction. It's hard for someone who grew up in unhealthy relationships with their parents to grasp God as our perfect heavenly Father who lavishes love on us. This verse reminds me of the happy times with my Dad. It also helps me view God as my perfect Heavenly Father who lavishes me with love.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Do you doubt God's love for you? Try memorizing this verse (1 John 3:1). Observe healthy father-child relationships to grasp good parental love if yours wasn't. Imagine God relating to you like those fathers with their children. Consider how He has blessed you by giving you everything you need while also graciously handling your inappropriate behavior.
2. Write God a letter of appreciation for His lavish love for you. Whenever you doubt, you can read this letter to remind yourself how much God loves you.
