Back when our youngest child was the lone one heading off to school in the mornings, we read Bible devotions with him—just as we had with his siblings. Even when the others were still living at home, Min fell chronologically and mentally below their level of understanding, so he had a separate devotional time since his bus came later. Min enjoyed that attention.
At some point we let our son choose which
devotional book he wanted us to read to him. He (with his incredibly short
attention span) liked books with a brief Bible story that included questions at
the end, which happened to be ones he requested repeatedly.
Sometimes
I gave clues so Min could get some correct answers, which always made him sit a
little taller and wear a grin.
One
particular morning we read a story about God’s love. The last question was “Who
loves you best?”
Min
exclaimed, “Mom and Dad!”
“We do
love you, but Someone loves you even more than we do,” I said.
He
looked astonished yet perplexed.
“How
about taking another guess.”
Min
put his pointer finger to his cheek, as he often did when think-think-thinking
and answered, “Grandma?”
“Oh,
Grandma loves you a lot, but Someone else loves you even more
than Grandma.”
Min’s shoulders
dropped a bit. “I don’t know.”
“How
’bout I give you a clue,” I said.
He
looked my way and nodded.
“Okay.
Listen carefully. The answer is spelled…”
Min
jumped up. “I’m a good speller!”
“Yes,
you are,” I replied helping him back into his chair, “so here’s the clue to Who
loves you the best. It’s spelled like this…” I slowed as I said each letter. “G-O-D.”
He
jumped up again, his hands shot into the air, and he shouted with gusto, “The
dog!”
“Oh
my!” I said attempting to gain some composure. “Yes, the dog does love
you.” I again helped Min take his seat and rubbed his back, which always helped
him settle. “But God loves you a kazillion times more than anyone or anything
else.”
Min
smiled so big.
We
prayed and thanked God for loving him so very much—even more than Dad, Mom,
Grandma…
…and
the dog. Then he ran out of the room to brush his teeth, grabbed his backpack
and lunch, and headed outside to wait for his bus—our dog always at his side.
Too
this day, Brian and I smile when we recall this memory. Yet I’ve also thought
about our son’s very real connection to animals and the animals’ affinity to
him. Also, “man’s best friend” where I particularly see correlations between
the dog and God.
Now,
don’t go ballistic on me and claim I said God is the same as our dog. No way!
No how! I mean no disrespect to God. I revere Him above all, but think about
it. On an earthly scale, aren’t dogs a great example of unconditional love?
Parents,
family, and friends can be, but they aren’t always. Yet the family dog greets
you like you’re royalty every time it sees you, shows you affection, and
remains loyal and true.
God’s
love is unconditional. I cannot compare His amount of love with anything on
earth—only use this tiny example of one of His creations. Our dog, however,
didn’t lay down her life and die for us. Only Jesus, God the Son, did that,
then rose again—proving He is our Living, Loving God. That’s how He made the
way possible for us to have our sins forgiven so we could be with Him for eternity.
That
is the desire of His heart. That’s the depth of His love and why He left
Heaven.
For
you. For me.
So,
Who loves you best?
I’ll give you a clue. This is how you spell the answer: G-O-D!
The Love of God
The
love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It
goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell.
The
wand’ring child is reconciled by God’s beloved Son.
The
aching soul again made whole, and priceless pardon won.
Refrain: O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and
strong!
It
shall forevermore endure—the saints’ and angels’ song.
When
ancient time shall pass away, and human thrones and kingdoms fall;
When
those who here refuse to pray on rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s
love so sure, shall still endure, all measureless and strong;
Grace
will resound the whole earth round—the saint’s and angel’s song. (Refrain)
Could
we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made;
Were
ev’ry stalk on earth a quill, and ev’ryone a scribe by trade;
To
write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry;
Nor
could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky. (Refrain)
(from
the hymn, The Love of God by Frederick M. Lehman. 1917, public domain)
#dyslexia #developmentaldisability #ADHD
#familydevotions #dog #unconditionallove
#loveofGod
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