Lessons of Love and Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

Sunday I made the kids (3 boys 11, 11, and 4) PBJs after we played at the park. The 11 year old was asking the 4 year old if I was his favorite. He responded with “sorta.” The 4 year old doesn’t know, who ever is in front of him is probably his favorite. The 11 year old yelled at me in the kitchen that the 4 year old shouldn’t get a sandwich since I’m “sorta” his favorite. I yelled back at the 11 year old from the kitchen as I spread the jelly and peanut butter “That’s not how love works!!”

There was silence. Silence because God’s true love that is undeserved is lavishly poured out, and it doesn’t depend on anything about me other than He loves me, and you, and the 11 year old prodding for favoritism, and the 4 year old who’s thankful just for “Halloween and Christmas” (i.e. presents and candy) as we voiced things we were thankful for on the ride home. 

The truth silences, there’s nothing more that could be pushed further. 

And so HIS LOVE pours through me to my 11 year old who is a sloppy pain at times, and hurts my feelings, and the 4 year old who admitted I’m sort of a favorite and doesn’t want to hug me all the time, and to my other 11 year old who just hangs in the background and wants to please me and help me. They all received sandwiches made with love from me and of course cut into quarters.

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