My sweet baby doll is going through a phase. Sitting at the table, crayons or paint brush in hand she is determined to be like the big kids. And she draws and colors and paints in her three year old way. But this week the phase has taken a unique turn because she regularly involves me in her efforts. She wants me to draw a heart on paper for her to color.
The Minnie Mouse coloring book won’t do. The Dora sticker and color book won’t do. Only Mommy’s hand drawn heart will fit the bill. It could be while I’m up to my elbows in suds doing dishes, or folding laundry, or as I’m standing over a boiling pot of pasta. She knows no boundaries, “Mommy! I need a heart on this paper,” she says to me.
And I draw one for her. Because I love her. again and again and again.
One day it seemed I had drawn hundreds of hearts for her to fill in with colors. You think I’m kidding, I know, but I’m absolutely serious. I am human, so eventually I grew a bit weary of this whole “drawing hearts” phase. When the day came to a close, and my baby girl was tucked in her bed, I walked the house in the stillness, picking up the colored-heart-papers she had strewn around the house.
In the quietness, I was reminded of something so sweet.
I have a Heavenly Father who never tires of telling me that He loves me. Regardless of whatever phase I am in, He lovingly, unconditionally, scripts His love across my heart in bright bold colors of lovingkindness, mercy and grace. He’s assuring me, affirming me that He loves me without human limitations.
Even now, with these thoughts in mind, my heart swells up, overflowing with His love. And I pray with every ounce of my being that I will love my children better, imitating the Father’s love for me.
In His Word He has scripted hearts for me, and I’ve been thinking about them tonight…
from Romans 5:
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.and Romans 8:
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.1John 3:
1Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!and from Ephesians 2:
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and madeus sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
And there are so many many many more love letters, from my Heavenly Father – brilliantly, lovingly scripted – from His heart to mine. It is a never-ending, forever and ever love that He gives – and I am so grateful to know it and receive it. After all, only His love will do.
Thank you Heavenly Father for the love You have penned in your word. My heart is so full, knowing this love, soaking it in. Help me to love more fully and deeply because of the daily lovingkindness you show to me. amen.
Hear are words to a song that I listened to this evening, while I was working in my kitchen… and it dawns on me just how true it is!
When God dips His love in my heart
When God dips His pen of love in my heart
And He writes my soul a message He wants me to know
His spirit all divine fills a sinful soul of mine
When God dips His love in my heart
Well I said I wouldn’t tell it to a livin’ soul
How He brought salvation and He made me whole
But I found I couldn’t hide such a love as Jesus did impart
Well He made me laugh and He made me cry, set my sinful soul on fire
When God dips His love in my heart
Well sometimes though the way is dreary, dark and cold
And some unburdened sorrow keeps me from the goal
I go to God in prayer, I can always find Him there
To whisper sweet peace to my soul
He walked up every step of Calvary’s rugged way
And gave His life completely to bring a better day
My life was steeped in sin but in love He took me in
His blood washed away every stain
daily portion 
Love it. Her hearts are so pretty and her heart must be feeling loving!?! Love, Nanny