Individual Love

The word of the  LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” JEREMIAH 1:4–5

 When our first child is born, we are often unprepared for the amount of love we feel. If we become pregnant with other children later, we might find it hard to believe that we can love any other child as much as our oldest. But then the new baby arrives, and we learn that all the assurances from well-meaning parents were true: we have more than enough love to spread around. In some sort of heart-based multiplication that only God could plan, we’re able to love each child in abundance and as an individual. We never need to take love away from one child to have enough for the other.

 The same concept is true for our relationship with God. No matter how many children are born or how many of us follow God, He has more than enough love for everyone and loves us equally and as unique individuals.

 God doesn’t care whether our figure is curvy or straight, and doesn’t prefer blonds or brunettes over redheads. He doesn’t think people with noticeable talents are more important than those of us who prefer to stay in the background. And although billions of people populate this earth, God never loses us in the crowd. He sees us and loves every detail that makes us unique, from the whorl of our fingerprints to each gray hair we might try to hide. We’re unique and special because God made us to be that way. Nothing we do—or don’t do—will ever make Him love us more or less than anyone else.

What a reason to celebrate ourselves and God’s love! It’s time to thank God for making us each a one of-a-kind woman and mom—and for doing the same for each of our children.

Thank You, God, for making me who I am. Help me learn to appreciate my uniqueness and remember that You love me just as I am—and just as much as anyone else. Amen .