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We sat around the table, eating chips and salsa as the light conversation took place. I could not wait to share with my friends. Before the main entree was served, an uncontrollable urge had me passing around pictures. The braggadocious words of my child’s current life relationships, career choice, and hard work began to dance off my lips. As we lingered at dinner, the intimate stories flowed from a deep heartfelt love that a parent knows.
Have you ever had the urge to share about your children? I do! Do you have those glorious moments when your child’s victory must be told . . . You know, those chest-puffed moments with a wink of approval because of a growth step in a man-child or woman-child that excitedly flows from a parent’s tell-tale?
Honestly, not every story of my kids is positive. Often, I seek prayer for the hurt my child is facing. Sometimes, I pray over the hurt my children are causing. I know of the pain with tears streaming. However, on ALL days, my children are loved with unconditional love from this imperfect parent. On most days, my words bubble with excitement to share of our life-giving relationships and their accomplishments.
However, this morning, I wonder . . . what does my Heavenly Father have to say about me? If you or I were a point of conversation in heaven today, would there be celebrations?
Here are a few thoughts I am pondering:
I propose that the heavens are talking about you and me. If our Heavenly Father knows the number of hairs on our head and every tear we shed, we are not forgotten. If we are not forgotten, I have to imagine there are conversations about family members. We know that just like I pray over my children, God prays for each one of His children. The Holy Spirit takes our hurts, burdens and groans to our Heavenly Father. “God in the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Romans 8:28 (NIV) Prayer is a merely a conversation with God. Your name, your hurt, your burden, your groans are taken to our Father. The trinity is talking about you. There are also celebrations in heaven over His Children. When someone comes to the Lord, the angels break into a party. (Luke 15:7) There is a great cloud of witnesses cheering for you as you run your race on this earth. (Hebrews 12:1-2) You are known, and celebrated in heaven. My friends, the heavens are talking about you.
The heavens are singing over His children. God’s word says, His children bring a song to His lips! “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV) We bring Him joy, and He sings over us. Wow! As much as I love my children, God loves His children even more. Nothing can separate us from His love. God loves us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV) “Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39 (ESV) I believe God cares deeply. His children and His creation are on His mind. We bring Him joy. He sings over you and me, like a parent singing over her child.
Sweetheart, no matter where you are in your spiritual journey, the Father is calling you to Himself. He treasures you deeply. You are always on His mind. Regardless of your behavior, you are loved. (Luke 15:11-32) There are deep prayers, long conversations and singing over you and yours.
I am not sure that God sits around eating Mexican food, but it is a good possibility we a point of conversation today. Perhaps, His chest is puffed out and He is bragging. I hear Him say, “There is my daughter. Let’s celebrate today.”
Lived loved, my sister, because you truly are!