I went to a high school basketball game recently. My five-year-old granddaughter, Ava, is one of the little cheerleaders. Pompoms in hand, she was so cute as she went through the cheers, her sweet face lit with excitement.
As I enjoyed watching her, the extra bonus of being at the game was playing with her two-year-old brother, Nolan. I might be a bit biased, but he’s adorable—two feet of human dynamo with a sunshine smile and contagious laugh.
With the background noise of players running up and down the court, the slam of the basketball and cheers from the crowd, we played with his toy trucks, created some walls and towers with his building blocks and made several trips to the snack bar for treats and something to drink. It was a good afternoon.
I had to leave a few minutes before the game was over. Nolan was busy playing, so I leaned over and kissed the top of his head, “Bye, buddy. I love you. I’ll see you later.” And then between cheers, I walked a few feet over and hugged Ava goodbye and told her that I loved her.
As I turned to leave, I heard Nolan’s voice, “Grandmama!” I turned to him and he said, “Give me some a-lovin’.” Yes, that was a total heart melt.
You know, there’s something in all of us that craves love. The love of children and grandchildren is mighty fine, but the love of our heavenly Father is indescribable and always available. Here’s what God says about it:
1) The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love… (Jeremiah 31:3)
2) I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. (Proverbs 8:17)
3) In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:9-11)
4) The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)
Such precious promises from the Father who loves us! Could you use some a-lovin’ today (as Nolan puts it)? God has an endless supply just for you.
