I go into Target several times a week. I love Target.
I only bought only one thing today, which is pretty close to a miracle: prenatal vitamins.
NO, I am not pregnant. I am taking a nutrition class for school, and the girls were encouraged to take prenatal vitamins as the only supplement in our diet. Most of the time, I'm a rule follower. So I marched myself over to Target immediately following class and got myself some!
OF COURSE this is the day that I see FOUR people I know in Target. I'm there for a total of seven minutes, and in the course of that seven minutes, I get to talk and explain the meaning behind why on earth I'm buying pregnant pills. (If you are curious, shoot me an email or fb me. I love talking about this kind of stuff!).
Anyway, by the fourth person (who just happened to be a momma I babysit for), I was ready to be done explaining. and this is how the conversation went...
Her: Lyss! Hey! How was your day?
Me: Great! How was yours?
Her: Mine was good, too. What are you getting today?
Me: prenatal vitamins.
Her (with the most concerned look on her face): Well, we love you. and we're here to support you through the whole process.
Me: (laughing) I'm NOT pregnant! Oh man... *launched into really long explanation about why I am taking prenatal vitamins*
Meanwhile, little man is in the cart just watching this all unfold. I gave him a hug after this hilarious exchange and told him I missed him.
He looked at me with those big huge four year old eyes and said, "Lyssa, you know when I'm never going to love you?" (translation: "do you know when I'm going to stop loving you?")
I smiled and said "When?"
With affirming laughter, he yelled, "NEVER! I'm just going to love you, and love you, and love you forever!"
I just about died.
*Can I please pause for a second and just say that I nanny/babysit for the most incredible families. I love watching mommas and daddies encourage their children to love extravagantly.*
Oh, how those simple words brought me SO much joy. They rejuvenated my heart. I scooped him out of the cart for a showering of hugs and kisses on his rosy cheeks, and was bombarded with a reminder of the eternal love that Jesus has for me.... for all of His kids. The hours that He has spent loving me FAR exceed the hours I've lived on earth.
In 20 years, He has demolished walls that imprisoned me, unlocked shackles that crippled me, and tore off the blindfold that concealed light from my eyes. He has equipped me with armor to shield me from the enemy and showered my heart with hope to restrain the doubt.
Every offense I have ever committed (and there's been a LOT of them) has been perfectly blanketed with His forgiveness. Often, I am ungrateful. Yet He still loves me. I have nothing to offer Him that is not already His, but He loves me. He loves me wildly and passionately and consistently.
Do you know when He's "never going to love me?" Never. Never ever.
He's going to love me, and love me, and love me forever.
Nothing fills my heart as full as that beautiful promise.
A trip to Target, a run in with one of my favorite moms and her son, and one bottle of prenatal vitamins later...
and my heart is about ready to burst. God is so kind.
He loves me.
He loves you.
We are loved.
Oh, and kids? They are stinkin amazing.
Love to you,
Lyss
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