Jesus told this story because he wanted us to not only know we were loved, but that His love for us creates great joy in God’s heart!

I know I am loved by God, but I don’t think I’ve grasped what that is really like for him. My failures, my past, and the difficulties I face can leave me feeling unworthy of that love. How about you?

So often, the innocent actions of children demonstrate deep truths. Such is the case with my oldest granddaughter. Our relationship had a unique beginning…

- the rest of the story -

as she was born just before the COVID pandemic. We lived in Hawaii and the only relationship building tool we had were video calls. It’s hard to snuggle and give kisses to a young child on a video call.

By the time we met in person she was already two. I worried that the relationship wouldn’t be what I had hoped because of the lack of my presence in her first couple of years.

But I clearly remember a visit I made on my own. As I walked in the door, both my grandson and granddaughter tackled me with hugs so that we all fell in a pile on the floor laughing! We got up and I took a few steps to the kitchen and my granddaughter joyfully leapt into my arms with her arms wrapped tight around my neck, my grandson’s arms around my waist.

The great joy she experessed in seeing me was astonishing. I didn’t feel like I had given what was needed to receive such a greeting. I didn’t feel worthy. But still, here it was innocently and genuinely given to me.

It makes me think of a parable - a teaching story Jesus told about a father and son (Luke 15:11-32). The son did some pretty horrible things, turning his back on his father and leaving home. He ended up in a terrible place.

Carrying the past of his failures and living in the muck of his choices, he decided to return home hoping to receive enough grace to become a servant in his father’s household. Head hanging low, he approched the home he had left. He planned on saying, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” (Luke 15:18-19 NLT)

The father, though, saw him coming while he was still a long way off. Even knowing all that his son had done, the Father was still filled with love and compassion. And you know what he did? He began to run. He ran to his son and threw his arms around him and kissed him, just like my granddaughter did to me!

The son said what he had planned to his father, but instead, the father presented him with gifts, and began planning a huge celebration!

Pure, unselfish love is always accompanied by joy! The father in this story demonstrated that joy! My granddaughter demonstrated that joy!

I didn’t feel I was worthy yet of that deep love she had for me, but her contagious joy showed me it didn’t matter what “failures” I was carrying, she loved me and it came out in expressions of joy!

This is how God feels about every one of us! Jesus told this story because he wanted us to not only know we were loved, but that His love for us creates great joy in God’s heart!

Imagine God’s love expressed with so much joy that it knocks you down flooded with giggles. He has so much joy over you that it’s like a child wrapping their arms around your neck holding tight!

My granddaughter and I have a special song between us. “Love is Like a Butterfly” by Dolly Parton.

“Your laughter brings me sunshine

Every day is springtime

And I am only happy when you are by my side

How precious is this love we share

How very precious, sweet and rare

Together we belong like daffodils and butterflies”

I can imagine God singing this verse to me and to you. No matter where you are and where you’ve been, God’s love for you is so pure it bursts out in joy over you.

I hope this painting helps you remember how precious, sweet and rare is God’s love and joy over you. And I hope when you come across someone else who is discouraged, or held back by their past, that you can share this truth with them too.