You Are Loved

Dad & Karlena

I love the picture above. Our photographer Heather captured it this fall when we had our pictures taken.  When I see it, I see my sweet little princess and her daddy.

What you might not see in this picture that I do, is how fiercely independent Karlena is.

Oh ya’ll (I know I am not Southern..but this is a ya’ll moment for sure!) she is only 3 and it is so bad!

She will only let me help her on HER terms.

If I ask her to hold my hand because it is icy, she runs ahead and shows me she is fine.

She insists on peeling her own Halo oranges…even if she has to do so like this to avoid getting juice squirted in her eyes…

Karlena Halo Oranges

Nope she doesn’t need my help, unless of course she does and it is her idea – but you get the point!

And tonight as she stomped into the door after work, carrying her own bag and declaring that everything was “mine”….I had a glimpse into what God might see in me at times too.

I shouldn’t be surprised at her behavior, because haven’t I done it myself so many times?

“God I’ve got this….it’s MINE”.

“No I don’t need to tread slowly because I am going to be fine”

I race on ahead and when I slip and fall….well I wonder where was God?!

But as frustrating as Karlena can be at times, I love her fiercely too.

How could I not love her – look at her!!

Karlena princess

And when I look at her in her pretty, purple, princess dress I imagine that is just how God sees us. Beautiful. (<==== Click to Tweet)

You see even though God knew we would sin and throw fits, we would run to unsafe places and act disrespectfully….He loved us so much that He sent His ONLY Son to die on the cross for our sins.

That ya’ll, is love 😉

So today I want you to remember how very special you are. How much God loves you, fits and all! (<==== Click to Tweet)

John 3:16-17   “16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” 

I am joining Holley Gerth today for her Encouragement Challenge.  If you need an extra dose of love hop on over and read even more encouragement!

Coffee-for-Your-Heart-150

0 thoughts on “You Are Loved

  1. Mel

    Ok, first of all, what a cutie pie! She’s adorable! I’m in the thick of the three-ness of toddlerhood, too…I actually wrote about that today, too. They sure give us a lot of blogging material, don’t they?! But in all seriousness, this is a beautiful reminder of love…thank you for sharing it today. 🙂

    And our girls need a play date. Soon. 🙂

    Love you, friend! Happy Wednesday!

    Reply
  2. Melissa Wallace

    Oh Kristen – I have one of those independent girls too. She is 7 and can really frustrate me at times, but then I remember that she is a blessing from God. She makes me laugh, she challenges me, she loves me with all her heart. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Alecia

    What a doll! I saw that picture on Fb the other day, the one with her head thrown back to keep the juice from her eyes, and laughed! 🙂 You gotta love those strong-willed babies! Karlena reminds me so much of my own daughter when she was that age. She’s 12 now and still strong willed, the battle are just different now. The strong willed ones stretch you, but you grow so much too.

    You are beautiful too, friend!

    Reply
  4. Ginger - Just One of the Boys

    Hi there! I discovered your blog through Holley Gerth’s fabulous linkup, and I am so glad that I did! What a wonderful story of love – you are so right, I can often see myself in my little ones. Their hurts, their frustrations all make me see how I must look to my Heavenly Father. I’m His toddler. 🙂 Thank you so much for the encouraging reminder that we are loved!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *