Needing a Change?

From a distance ADONAI appeared to me, [saying,] "I love you with an everlasting love; this is why in My grace I draw you to Me. ~ Jeremiah 31:3

When my daughter Kierstyn was still in diapers just a few short years ago, she had a most peculiar way of letting me know she had taken care of her business.

She was in the habit of pushing me away from her every time she had ‘gone potty’ - that would be No. 2! Moms, you know the look and you are familiar with ‘all things poopy’, I am sure. (You might be interested to know that I had to add 'poopy' to my spell check.)

Now, I always knew when she was going to take care of this smelly business because she would find a quiet place...usually behind a door. When I would find her, she would say as best she could,' No, mommy...I don't need you, I have poopy!'.

And I would patiently hold out my arms to her. All the while she would wave her hands back and forth, avoiding eye contact and repeat, 'No, mommy...I don't need you, I have poopy!'

There I would remain with open arms - still confident that my patience would eventually pay off in the form of hugs.

This would play on three, four, sometimes five times.

'Kierstyn, Mommy loves you! EVEN when you have a poopy!’, I would reassure her with an affectionate smile.

Eventually, she would give in and hug me. Though a little reserved, she would embrace me and look at me with those big, brown eyes knowing that despite the fact that she was undeniably stinky, her Mommy remained PASSIONATELY IN LOVE WITH HER PAST ALL THE 'POOPY' she found herself in.

Embracing me, though not as tightly as I would like - but satisfied with her little body pressed against mine nonetheless - I would tell her, “Now, let's go change your diaper and make you smell pretty and feel better!”

Having accepted my love, she now finally accepts my offer...happily. And she is ready for a change.

Today, try to see yourself as Kierstyn. Perhaps you already do! When we see ourselves in His light, we are prompted to praise our Heavenly Father because of His steadfast and immeasurable love for us.

"Here is what love is:not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the kapparah [atonement, pardon] for our sins."~ 1 John 4:10

This ‘Set-Apart ABOVE Love’ changes us when we ACCEPT it. And then our Father says, ‘Child, now love others with this love I have given you - past their performances - good, bad or indifferent. Just LOVE as I AM.’

Now, that is Heavenly and life-changing!

ABBA, open our eyes to accept this love You freely give! Give us holy vision, impart to us an understanding that will change every aspect of our lives. And be Magnified in our homes, our fellowships and in this age. Make Your Love flow from the inside out into mighty streams of Living Waters for others to drink freely from, in Yeshua’s Life-Giving Name.

Carmen would love the pleasure of your company at Women Of the Word!