Tonight we bought a fish. We bought a fish for our Dory obsessed girl. She squealed and gasped as she watched it swim around its circular container. When we got it (more specifically him) home we put him in the bath tub with her for the most exciting 3 minutes of her little life before getting him better situated in a vase in her room. My husband really wants to name the fish Giraffe, but I fear it will cause our almost 2 year old to think that fishes and giraffes are the same animal. I'm voting "Gill".
The amount of happy that watching that girl get an 8$ fish brought me is immeasurable. I can't stand it. I physically ache sometimes, tonight being one of those times, when I realize that she is mine. It's a heavy, breathe taking, overwhelming pleasure that I do not deserve. We bought her a fish simply because we knew she'd love it and in no way would it bring her harm.
Matthew 7:11 comes to my mind. "So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?"
If Abbie- despite her many flaws- cares enough to buy a fish for Loula, just because, knowing the happiness and fun it will bring, how much greater at knowing and fulfilling and tending to the desires and needs of His children must the Lord be? (That's the Abbie version. You're welcome).
I don't know why, but it's hard for me sometimes to really get, really get, that Jesus loves me the way I love Loula times like 733,000. I think I'm too aware of my own yuck for that to make sense to me.
What a sweet beautiful truth though, that Jesus views me with the same heavy pleasure that I do Loula. He is happy, it is His pleasure and joy, to have me as His child. Wow.
He feels the same way about you. He died and conquered death for you. For me. For us.
Simply put- Jesus would buy you a fish named Giraffe if you wanted it.
How wonderful.