I’m reading a wonderful book about one man’s journey out of religion into finding God called “Divine Nobodies” by Jim Palmer. In it, he tells of a beautiful illustration of a young, handicapped girl in a wheelchair with her father kneeling next to her reading a book that is resting in her lap. He has his arm around her, and she’s slumped over against his shoulder, with her head resting against the side of his face. The young girl can’t walk, talk or even sit up straight; she’s just sitting there unresponsive as her dad animatedly reads to her.
I was deeply moved by this illustration and the author’s response to it. As he explained, this little girl has absolutely nothing to offer her father. She can’t reciprocate his love in any way. Yet, his adoration for her is apparent. She may be useless to the world, but, to her father, she is priceless.
In this world, we are valued for what we have to give. Even in the church, the emphasis is often on what we can do for God. We work so hard trying to get God to like us. Would God still love me if I had nothing to offer Him? If I could do absolutely nothing but receive His love, would God see me as His treasure?
I know how very much I love my own children and that they do could nothing to diminish that love. They don’t have to do anything to earn my love; they just have it.
I’m reminded of Jesus’ comment that, “If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts?” (Matthew 7:11).
If I am able to love my children so much, how much greater must be God’s love for His children? It’s hard for me to begin to grasp being loved so profoundly. Yet, it is slowly becoming real for me and I find myself in awe that such a magnificent God could find such value in an insignificant little human like me, who really has nothing to offer Him. It’s so unlike human love that I may need reminding again tomorrow, but for today, I’m just going to lean against His face and soak up all that adoration.