Georgie
What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." Matthew 18:12-14
INSIGHT
At my house, we are deep in the throes of toddlerhood. In just two weeks, we will have a one, two, AND three-year-old under our roof! Toddler excitement and emotions are real, constant, and ever-changing.
I've learned the hard way that nothing happens fast when you have kiddos. In our case, it is partially because our kids talk through everything and get distracted so easily. We've learned to start the bedtime routine long before we want them in bed, or we all end up frustrated and rushed. The same goes for breakfast before pre-school and even trying to get to church on time. Patience is often in practice, and our fly by the seat of our pants lifestyle pre-kids seems like a distant memory.
Don't get me wrong, this phase of life can be challenging, but it is also a precious opportunity to slow down and see things from a different perspective. Our middle child, Braxton, is two and a half and loves his stuffed monkey, Georgie. We actually had to create a rule that Georgie can't come downstairs. One, because we hoped to make him last just a little longer, and two, it was an effort to stop Georgie from holding us up every time we tried to leave the house. Georgie is borderline falling apart and has a distinct and unpleasant smell no matter how many times he takes a visit to the washing machine.
Even so, our son LOVES Georgie. It doesn't matter what he smells or looks like or what Braxton is doing; he wants Georgie right there with him. We have a basket of stuffed animals downstairs and a bin full in his room, but as soon as we reach the top of the stairs, Braxton heads straight for Georgie. He holds him when we play games, he wants to play with him while we change his diaper, he sets Georgie in his lap to read books, and he even brings Georgie to brush his teeth.
I can't fully grasp Braxton's love for his stuffed monkey, but I know it is real, and it doesn't matter how hard we try to convince him to pick a new stuffed animal or put Georgie down, Braxton refuses. I can't help but see Braxton's desire and dedication for Georgie like a small glimpse of God's deep love for us.
We may not be able to fully grasp why God would leave the 99 to care for the one that's lost. But He does it in a heartbeat. It doesn't matter that He is the King of Kings and could do things easier on His own. It doesn't matter that we are one in nearly 8 billion people in this world. It doesn't matter that we have fallen and turned from Him a hundred times already. And it doesn't matter what we look like or how well we present ourselves. God is still eagerly pursuing us and fighting to be in a relationship with us at all times. We were created by God and for God, and He will never leave or forsake us.
REFLECTION
What makes you doubt that God views you as valuable and worthy of His affection and attention?
PRAYER
God, thank you for your deep love for me. Thank You for seeking me out, welcoming me back, and always loving me mercifully. Help me to lean into that love in a way that compels me to love others fiercely. I pray for eyes to see others the way You see me. Amen.
Katie Robinson, Treasure Island's Curriculum Coordinator, wrote today's devotional.
