Seek First: Uniquely Chosen
“How was your day?” I casually ask Luke as we drive home from school.
“Great,” he replies with a smile, “Caleb picked me FIRST to be on his basketball team!”
We don’t need to be eleven-year-olds on the playground to understand the longing to be chosen. The bride does not merely glow because she’s in love; she glows because she has been CHOSEN by her groom. The orphan does not just long for a family, but he longs to be CHOSEN by a parent who wants him. To be chosen imparts value. To be chosen implies that we are special and wanted. God declares He has not just created us, but He has also CHOSEN us. Amazingly, it gave him great pleasure to do the choosing!
God has never created a child who is not His “favorite.” In the incomprehensible complexity of God’s boundless love, He favors each of us as if we were His only. In the words of A.W. Tozer, An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to teach one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.
As parents we can tap into the power of “the chosen” and let each child be our “favorite.” God has created us in his image, with the capacity to fully love every child in our care without depleting another’s measure of affection. May we find ways to assure our children that we will always CHOOSE to love them for WHO they are- uniquely created treasures of God!
Parent’s Pondering: Do I see myself as God’s favorite? How can I raise children who find confidence in their unalterable status in God’s heart? Take time today let each of your children know he/she is your favorite!
