Yesterday while shopping at “Mom’s Organic Market” Aspen wanted to use the bathroom.  I took Aspen and left Brett in the refrigerated section of the store.  On the way back to Brett I stopped to look over some locally produced mozzarella cheese.  In the meantime Aspen didn’t want to wait so she raced ahead, much easier to do with her small child-sized cart thru the narrow aisles than with my full-size cart.  I chased after her as quickly as possible thinking all was well because the store was small and she would find Brett where we left him.  I arrived where I had left Brett and didn’t find either Brett or Aspen!  I tried calling Brett who didn’t answer his phone and headed back the direction I had come from calling for Aspen.  I was worried, after all she is only five.  Half-way down the aisle I saw her wildly race around the corner pushing her cart.  Obviously she was not with Brett.  I called to her and she turned around and came back, incredibly relieved to be back in the presence of her mommy.  Later when I related the story to Brett he turned and asked Aspen if she was glad she had found mommy.  Aspen replied, “I didn’t find Mommy…… Mommy found me!”

When we are the “lost sheep”  we don’t find God…..He finds us!

“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance”—Luke 15:4-7.

My husband asked to write the following devotional tonight after our evening walk:

NOTE: I know you have heard this, or something very similar, before and probably many times.  It is, I believe, good and important to be reminded of every so often how much God loves us because we are His children.  So, at the risk of repeating a truth you’ve heard a million times, here is how God reminded me about His love for me through my 5-year-old daughter.

Tonight, Aspen took a little tumble off her scooter during our family walk around the neighborhood.  It wasn’t a bad fall, no cuts or bleeding, just enough to give her a raspberry on her knee.  Aspen hasn’t had too many falls so far in life (she possesses her Father’s gazelle like abilities in balance and grace) so she really hasn’t experienced a lot of physical pain.  Therefore, whenever she does hurt herself, it’s something of a new experience for her and I think makes it hurt more.  So, when she fell, first there was shock and then there were tears.  My initial reaction was to make sure she was OK and not bleeding, but when she held up her arms, something from deep within me takes over and I want nothing but to pick her up, hold her and make all the pain go away.  In fact, I’ve learned that the more intense Aspen’s pain, the more intense are my feelings and desire to bring comfort and healing.

Now, contrary to what some people might believe about me, I’m a schmuck.  I’m not trying to be self-deprecating for humor, I just know me and when it comes to sinners I am, like Paul, the chief officer of sinners.  The reason I’m sharing this is to make a point: if I, being a chief of sinners, have that kind of reaction to my daughter’s pain, how much greater can you even begin to imagine, is God’s reaction to your pain?  

And we all have pain, right?  Oh as we get older the pain isn’t so much from tumbles, broken toys or fearing the monsters under our bed, but of moral falls, broken hearts and fears about our futures.  But the pain is still very real.  And the hurts can cut very deep.  And at times we may be tempted to believe that no one cares, I mean really cares.  Believe me, that is exactly what Satan wants you to believe.  He wants you to feel your all alone in this world because that is when you and I are most vulnerable.  But believe me, I know someone cares.  I know someone who hurts when you hurt and longs to heal your pain.  Because you are His child He can never, ever, not respond to you when you turn to Him with your hurt and tears. When you reach your arms out to Him, He will never turn away.  Because He loves He HAS to respond.  Believe me, I know a little how it feels.  And if you have children you probably know too.  And if you don’t, trust me.  I thought I knew a lot about God’s love for man.  Then I had a child and I learned that no matter how long I live as a parent, I will only begin to start to know something of God’s love for me and you.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39