Am I Your Favorite?

That's the question I get, regularly, from my four youngest grandchildren. It's actually quite hilarious and my usual answer is, "I love you all the same" or "I love you all uniquely because you are all so special in your very own ways!" I will respond to my 11 year old, Bryson, when I get that question from him, "Yes, you are my FAVORITE 11-year old." None of those answers seem to satisfy them because of late, it's the last one to have my cell phone in hand who places their photo on my home page, that they deem to be my "favorite". When my Alexia and Payton saw that I had Bryson's birthday picture on my home screen a couple of days ago (because I was just there celebrating his birthday), they battled it out for who's picture would be there. It seems Alexia won because hers is the one on there now. For my birthday, Payton wrote on my card envelope: "To: Nana, From your favorite grandson aka Payton. Alexia wrote: "To Nana, From Alexia (Your fav granddaughter). I love this competition for Nana's approval and love. They know they have it and, of course, I know they're all playing me!

When my husband was in his final days on this earth, my daughter, Staci, and I would often be with him, tending to his needs and wants. One day -- without looking directly at either of us, he said, "I love you so much, my precious darling!" We both asked, at the same time, "Which of us are you talking to?" In his usual finesse and wisdom, announced "Both of you!" VERY wise man.

Maybe you don't feel like anybody's "favorite" today. Here's the truth -- I am God’s favorite…and so are you! Psalm 16:3 As for the saints who are on the earth, they are excellent ones, in whom is all my delight."

I have people respond to me from time to time, “Wow, God sure loves you and favors you!" The fact is I know I'm not favored above anyone else, but I do know I want to make Him famous so I talk about Him a lot. I celebrate His blessings -- big and small. But, the fact of the matter is God says in His Word, He is not partial. Romans 2:11 "For God shows no partiality." He will not favor me over you. You see, I am His favorite, but you are too! I rejoice with you that you share in this great reality. We are God’s own favorite people.

It’s hard to imagine that our great God is not partial, but we are, in fact, His favorites. We are His own special people and so are any of the “whosoevers” that John 3:16 talks about. The "whosoevers" become His favorites by believing John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes in Him, will not perish but have everlasting life!" That's forever! That means He loves us so much that He will never be an "empty-nester". You know, like those parents who look forward to their kids moving out and starting their own lives. That's not God. He welcomes us to live with Him forever and ever!

So, yes, we are God’s favorites FOREVER. You and I are God’s special treasures and this astounding promise lasts forever and FOREVER! Hebrews 13:5 "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”

May we realize that we are all God’s favorites. If He had a cell phone, my picture would be on it when I looked, and when you looked, your picture would be on it. In return for that favoritism, may we live our lives completely out loud for those who are lost and hurting and don't know His love. May we help Him help all of His kids to know His love that can never be compared and that they would know they are God’s favorites, too!

Time to be an EMPTY NESTER!

Day 180 of Photo Inspirations -- Time to be an EMPTY NESTER!
Two weeks ago I told you about a beautiful cardinal perched on my fence and was inspired that he came to bring me joy and excitement – my family was coming in town that night.  A week letter, I came home to find he was there for his own family.  A nest had been built in my crepe myrtle and it contained two itsy bitty cardinal babies. Daily, since then, I’ve gone to take a little peek of the little darlings.  It’s amazing how quickly they grew.  I knew this would be the week that they would be out on their own.  This first photo is day before yesterday when they were still cozy in the nest.

And yesterday, I saw Mr. Cardinal perched at the very top of this tree – almost in glorious pride shouting out….. “My babies have left the nest!”  The next photo is Mrs. Cardinal on the column with baby cardinal on the ground fledgling around.  It wasn’t long before the twins had taken flight.  And all that’s left is this last photo taken today …… of the empty nest.  I’m quite sure that Mr. Cardinal is strutting around, beak and head crest held high, giving high fives to Mrs. Cardinal and shouting to the world, in the words of Dora the Explorer… “We did it! We did it!”

I’ve been amazed as I watched the instincts of these birds. And, while those instincts are given to them at birth, it took encouragement and motivation by Mom & Dad Cardinal to help them reach their full potential to spread their wings and fly.   It's increible how quickly these little birds went from ibeing inside of an egg, to emerging as little birds and being fed by their parents, and then being encouraged to jump from the nest and now flying -- especially when we consider us.  It takes 18+ years for our kids to take flight.

Do you remember bringing your new baby home from the hospital?  I didn’t sleep a wink that night. I kept checking to see if he was breathing. We made it through those days to sheer joy as we watched his many "firsts"-- his first smile, his first laugh-out-loud, his first time to rollover, the first time he sat up, the first time he crawled and the first time he walked.

Remember walking?   My husband would be on one side holding him up, while I stood across from him -- holding out my arms with a toy or food to motivate him to step out on his own.  It didn’t work the first time.  He’d fall down, and Daddy would help him up again, and with the same process over and over again, our little guy eventually ventured across to me.  That’s what the Mama bird did.  That little baby bird had to be coaxed to leave the nest – and it was probably for food.  Mama bird probably withheld food from him, and He was hungry and he knew he had to leave the nest to get it.  I watched those little birds fledgling around and soon the whole family had taken wing and flown away.

I could compare this all to those Moms and Dads who are going through the challenging “empty nest syndromes”.  You may be taking your baby to pre-school for the first time this year and there are those who will be taking your baby to college for the first time this year.  Yes, probably there will be tears – whether it is pre-school or college, but, oh, such good tears.  Tears of the memories of the first steps, the first camp-out, the first time they drove, the first girl or boy friend…..and now the first time out on their own.  You’ve done what you were created to do…..bring those precious babies into this world, encourage them to grow up and encourage them to leave the nest.  It’s the cycle of life – and you are equipped to handle it – so much so that you can sing along with Dora the Explorer, too.  Go ahead – give your spouse and friends and family big High 5’s and pat yourselves on the back and say "We did it!  We did it!"