Just because

I think it is amazing what we can learn from our children. They reflect love in the purest form. My daughter Megan who is 3 told me that she wanted to make a special treat for her daddy. I asked her what she wanted to do and she didn't know but she wanted to make something out of dough so we had to go to the store and get some. I didn't bother to tell her that we could make dough at home because it was her special treat and she HAD to get it the dough from the store. That was last night and the first thing she told me after she demanded her morning drink was that we had to go to the store. So today we went to the store and she decided on chocolate chip cookie dough (which happens to be Russell's favorite).

This week was hard on Russell and I and what better of a way to end a hard week than with fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. The more I think about it the more interesting I find this. She didn't know why, or even care why daddy needed something special she just wanted to do it. God knows everything we go through and sometimes he just wants to share something special with us just because. I always hated that phrase growing up, but now I kinda like it. Maybe it is because I am a mom now a use it, but now I know what it means. "I love you so much that this is it." No explaination, just motivated by love.

How often do we do things just because for some people. Sometimes our just because needs to be for ourselves. We get stuck in the rut of life and time passes by and we wonder what happened. But love is the spice of life. I look at one of my children screaming at the grocery store and fail to drown out the the whining about wanting to go somewhere to eat from the others and I realize, at that stress filled moment that I am laughing. I am happy because I know that it will not be like this forever and they need me. How often do we come before God crying or whining and just what Him to do something. I think God has the same reaction to us that I had to my children. "Thank you for coming to me and showing me that you need me. You make me smile because you don't realize the beautiful things that are coming but I do. Please remember I love you and keep coming to me."

One of Elizabeth's favorite verses in the Bible is, "Let the little children come to me." How it must overjoy the Father when we come to Him. The simple fact is that it isn't just that we need Him but he needs us and he wants us. That is just a part of love. One day my children will grow up and they won't need me anymore. But I hope that they still come to me, not because they have to but because they want to. That is a deep love. That is what God wants, is the just because kind of love.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." -Matthew 19:14

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control. -Galatians 5:22-23

"Lord thank you for this day, may I endeavor to be more fruitful in my life. I love you, need you and want more of you, my Abba."