Do  you remember your first love?  I am not just referring to your first romantic love, but how about the first love you had for your parents?

Do thoughts like these come to mind?

• “Where Mom is, that’s where I want to be,” or
• “If it’s  O.K. for my Dad, then it’s O.K.  for me.”

You may not recall being a mommy’s or daddy’s boy or girl, but in the lives of children we can see and remember the love and affection, the adoration, the imitation and, yes, even sometimes the submission that tells us that children think their parents are very special.

Jesus took children in His arms and blessed them.  He knew then how special and important they are.  Even though they are not mature and do not possess great understanding, He loves as He did then.

We are all children.  Our heavenly Father has nourished and taught us, protected and clothed us.  He has warmed, comforted and rescued us just like any loving, parent would.

He made us for His pleasure.  Believe it or not, He enjoys us.  Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that He even rejoices over us with singing.  Can you imagine a parent bursting with joy over his children?  I think we all can.

Is it so strange the He yearns for our love in return?

Ponder this message from what is written in Revelation 2:24.  Here God is speaking to one of His churches.

“I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance and how you cannot bear evil men…

I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my Name’s sake and you have not grown weary.

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”

Does that sound like He’s talking to you?  Have the years robbed you of the love and affection, the adoration, the imitation and, yes, even sometimes the submission that tells your heavenly Father that you love Him and think He is special?

Let Him know today that He is important to you.  He took pains in making you, caring for you and rescuing you.  He has shown that He thinks you are very special.  Today can be the day you return His love.

photo credit: Loyal O.A.K. via photopin cc
photo credit: Minarae via photopin cc