“Mom, I love you so much,” my five year old told me last night as we were finishing up her bedtime routine. “More than my Shopkins and my figurines!”
“Well, I’m glad for that,” I said as we hugged. “I love you, too!”
“Yeah…they just stand there. And some of them don’t even stand up. Like Pocahontas. She always falls down.”
Whew, I came out ahead of the unsteady Pocahontas figurine–what a relief. I am conscious of my children’s growth in height, in their reasoning ability, in their impulse control (thank goodness for that!), and even in their faith. I rarely think about the fact that that their understanding of love keeps growing, too.
Several nights ago, our dinner devotion was about love and Valentine’s Day. My husband posed the question: “How do Mom and Dad show that they love you?”
Our five year old answered immediately. “Hugs and kisses!”
Our three year old, wanting to participate, too, repeated: “Hugs and kisses!”
Our seventeen month old, not to be outdone, parroted: “Kisses!!”
“Okay, what else?”
Our five year old looked suddenly serious. “When you say, ‘I forgive you.'”
That’s the best explanation of love I’ve heard in a long time.
And the way that we show love to our little ones is also the way that God shows love to us.
How do we know God loves us? He forgives us.
He doesn’t forgive because he decides to overlook it when we fall down…when we complain about the work He’s given us, sport a me-first attitude with our spouses, or let our tempers flare with our kids on these dreary winter days. “Our offenses are many in [His] sight,” (Isaiah 59:12) And all are an affront to Him. He can’t just sweep them under the rug.
He forgives us because on the cross, Jesus paid the price for these offenses. Payment was made, and God accepted that payment. Now we stand in His forgiveness.
He tells us, “I forgive you,” in many different ways, because communicating His love to us is His number one priority. Here are some of my favorites:
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist (Isaiah 44:22).
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12).
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. …Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you (Isaiah 43:1,4).
When we listen to Him say, “I forgive you,” we know that He loves us. And our understanding of His love keeps growing.
What is your favorite expression of God’s forgiveness? Share it in a comment! Write it down and put it on your fridge, in your car, or somewhere you’ll see it often.
Consider it God’s valentine to you.
