Because your love is better than life....

Today was one of those days. It was a great day. But when I came home, I was exhausted. I was thinking, on the way home, that I wasn't going to cook tonight. We'd just have sandwiches or something easy. Then it happened. I got a phone call from my son, Daniel. "Mom, uhhh, are you by any chance cooking tonight? Me and Sam were thinking of eating at our house... so, I was just wondering...." Immediately, my mind went into cooking mode and I began planning the menu. I was thinking "What can I pull together for Daniel? And I haven't seen Sam in a while...this is going to be fun!!"

You see, most of you probably know my daughter, Lindsay. She loves to be in a crowd of people, loves having her picture made, loves being on stage, and loves being mentioned in my blog. But you might not know Daniel. He and I are so much alike. Daniel hates having his picture taken, (I couldn't even find a recent picture of him for this post) he hates being the center of attention, hates large parties and will probably hate that I am writing this blog about him.

But after that phone call this afternoon, I started thinking about him. Daniel is the one that makes our family interesting. Daniel has almost always challenged me, on every level. When he was younger, challenged me on rules, chores, where he goes to school, what time curfew is, where he shops, who he dated, and so on. Now that he's grown, he still challenges me. He is the one that will have the controversial opinion about any subject that I am main stream on. And yet, even as I am writing this, he just called and said "Mom, Sam left his stuff at our house. Is there any way you would meet us halfway and bring his stuff to us?" It was 10pm. I was just about ready for bed, and more exhausted than ever. But I got in the car and drove to meet them. Don't get me wrong. He is not spoiled. But he is just...well...Daniel. And I adore him. He is wonderful. And he stands by me through thick and thin. He makes me think outside the box. He gives to me sacrificially.  My relationship with him is intense but every bit as wonderful, joyful, fun and special as my relationship with Lindsay.

My relationship with Daniel reminds me of my relationship with God. I am not always God's most compliant child. Now, hear me out. I believe Him, I love Him, I trust Him completely. He is my everything, and I will follow Him no matter where He leads me. But I am often His child that challenges Him. I am often the one that says "Really? Do I have to go through this again? I thought I already learned this lesson." Or I am the one that cries and cries over pain or trials. I seem to take the longest to heal from a difficult time. I am just His slowest learner, I think!

And yet He loves me more than my mind can grasp. Just like I love Daniel more than he will ever know, God loves and adores me even more! I would do anything for Daniel. I will go to the ends of the earth for him. And God loves me even more than that! God gave His Son to die for me! I can hardly take it all in! I can't grasp His sacrifice. But He is amazing and wonderful, and I am so grateful that I am His favorite!!! (and so are you!! we are all His favorites!!) Just imagine that...

Psalm 63:3-4 Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
      how I praise you!
  I will praise you as long as I live,
      lifting up my hands to you in prayer.