More Like Him.....

At Daddy Oz's side of the family's Thanksgiving meal, we were all asked to share what we are most thankful for this year......

Lately, I have been just absolutely overwhelmed and humbled by the amazing LOVE of Jesus. I can't remember a time that I did not know that He loved me.....I've always known that. But, now......I am just beginning to realize just HOW much He loves me......all of us. When I look at my precious, precious children, I just can't help but think how MUCH I love them.......how I much I want the best for them.......how I would suffer any kind of humiliation (even one of those showing up at school in your underwear dreams come true) rather than to see them get their feelings hurt, get left out of a party or be the last one chosen for a game. I want them to be happy, successful......for their dreams to always come true! I want them to always have a buddy to play with, to always make the team, and never have to stand in the corner at a school dance. But, more than anything.........I want them to be like Jesus.......to have a heart like His. I'm just now coming to truly realize that is what He wants too. He wants us to have a heart like His. He loves us soooooooo much that He is willing to let us loose the game, to be chosen last, not make the team, not have a buddy and to be alone at a dance.........if it means that we will become more like Him........if it means our heart will become more like His.

My heart literally feels like it could burst when I think of just how much He loves me. How deeply His heart must break when I suffer a heartbreak or face trial........how hard it must be for Him not to just reach down and "fix it" for me. But, because he wants me to have a heart like His, he uses trials, disappointments and the unfairness of this world to help me be more sensitive to others, to grow in patience, faith and trust in Him.

So, this Thanksgiving........what I wish I'd said, when asked, is that I am most thankful that He loves me enough to help me become more like Him........that He is willing and loving enough to suffer heartache to make my heart more like His.

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."

Jeremiah 31:3