I Wuv You Berry Much

How great is the love The Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Spontaneously saying a prayer of thanksgiving as I pulled out of the parking lot of First Presbyterian Church, I very earnestly thanked God for ‘Mothers Morning Out’- in my case ‘Grandmothers Morning Out’ – and drove away to enjoy three blissful hours of being all alone in my quiet house.

I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to care for Katelyn, my two-year-old granddaughter, during the day. I love having such a big part in her life but this little blessing of mine is a handful and can zap every ounce of energy from this Nana’s body. Some days when my daughter, Emily, picks up Katelyn she says, “Wow, Mom! You really look tired.” I have to admit that there have been days that I felt I could collapse as the door closes behind them.

Katelyn’s saving grace with Nana is the fact that she’s just as sweet and loving as she is wide-open. She’s also very funny. I went through the stage of having to chase her to change her diaper but one day I stopped and said, “Katelyn, I’m not chasing you anymore.”

Of course, Katelyn’s new favorite saying became, “I not chase you anymore, Nana.” Hard to keep a straight face with that one sometimes.

Katelyn is also very perceptive for her age. She can tell when Nana is about at the end of her rope and she’s learned just how to handle the situation. As we drove along the other day, I looked back to see ten wiggling little toes. And I’d just put socks and shoes on those toes and asked Katelyn to please leave them on. Turning around I thought,

This child is going to get the best of me yet.

About that time Katelyn said, “Nana?”

“Yes, Katelyn?” I replied in a weary voice.

“I wuv you berry much.”

I glanced in the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but smile.

Katelyn knew Nana needed that.

“I love you very much too, Katelyn.”

And I felt my heart swell - Nana’s hearts are just like that.

I know there have been days that if God ever did get tired,
I would have made Him feel exhausted.
I’m sure there have been days He must have felt like
He was right at the end of His rope with me.
I wonder if He’s ever thought,

This child is going to get the best of me yet.

However, God’s Word tells me that He is “a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love.”

Just the same, I think I should learn from Katelyn and remember to say,

Father, I love You very much.

I know His heart will swell - Father’s hearts are just like that.

Do we remember to ask our Father’s forgiveness for the times that
we feel we have pushed Him to the “end of His rope?”

I hope that we also remember to tell Him,

“Father, I love you very much.”

Father, thank you that you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love. We love you very much. Amen.

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