His Valued Children

May 16, 2023

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! 1 John 3:1 NLT

My parents were proud parents and grandparents. Our pictures and notes were all over their home; pictures of us as infants all the way to the present. They were even part of Mom’s favorite billboard—her refrigerator. You could barely see the metal for the carefully taped pictures and quotes announcing who or what was most important in that home.

Dad was always delighted to introduce us to others as his children. He valued us so highly and believed we brought value to the Mason name. He was on a walker at the nursing home, yet he insisted anytime he felt well enough to escort me to the door. I told him on many occasions, “Daddy, I know you are such a gentleman. You don’t need to walk me to the door. Just rest.”

He would respond, “Oh, this is what I want to do. I want people to know you belong to me, to know you’re my daughter.” Lump in my throat just thinking about it. I was so proud of Dad and Mom. Carrying their name meant something, and the fact that they were proud of me made me want to see them in me when people said, “That’s Jim and Marie Mason’s girl.” Because I was already so valued just because I was their daughter, I wanted to live out who they saw me to be.

Your Father feels that way about you. He proudly identifies you as His child. He doesn’t just call us His children to make us feel good. That is who we are! We ARE His valued, dearly loved children. We will never be able to live up to our potential and experience the full joy of life as God intended unless and until we accept that we are priceless and precious—just because we are His. When we begin to see that, we begin to live it out.

I am watching it replay through my three-year-old grandson Griffin. His daddy loves him to distraction. Griff is thriving in that love, and is one of the happiest, most fun-loving, and confident little guys you could meet. He becomes more like his father daily. His gestures, his words, his behaviors trace back to his dad. Jacob strokes his children’s faces at night when he prays for them, calls them by name, and says, “Jesus loves you, Griffin. Jesus loves you, Eden, Jesus loves you, Evelyn.” Now when Jacob reads to Griff or holds him close, Griff frequently strokes his face and assures him, “Jesus loves you, Daddy.”

Realizing His love for you as His child will help you live up to the privilege. If God has a refrigerator, I can promise you—your picture is on it.

• Father, I am so grateful to be Your child. Thank You for claiming me as Your own and being proud of me. I love You too. More than I can say. Help me resemble You today.