Holding His hand.

Children are my passion. I love everything about them. Learning, playing, laughing, being silly, even misbehaving, and especially forming relationships. It's one of my favorite things when I see a child out in town from daycare, and they remember me by name. I can't explain how my heart smiles.

But my relationship with God can be compared to children in so many different ways. And I will have revelations while holding a child's hand, feeding a 2 month old baby, teaching a toddler their manners, and being yelled at or ignored by a preschooler. My relationship with them is somewhat of a reflection of my relationship with Christ. He wanted to love me, when I was in the womb growing and developing, when I was a small baby not able to do anything for Him but expect care. Growing more and more in my sinful nature without having to be taught. I can not imagine the pain and remorse my Father felt as I let go of His hands holding me, and walked my own way.

The children that I have been around, for only a few weeks have grown on me. I love them, and care for them. I can't explain how I feel like they are my own. How much more does our Heavenly Father love us.

Hosea 11:1-3; 7-9

1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

2 But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.

3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.

4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.

7 My people are determined to turn from me. Even if they call to the Most High, he will by no means exalt them.

8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.

9 I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man— the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.

I wish I could completely understand this: The Greek word for love in verse 1 is Ahav, and means a lot of different things. To love, desire, delight, like, be fond of, covet, be beloved, amiable, to be a passionate lover or paramour. It implies an intensely devoted, eager, or enthusiastic mindset and a tenderness of affection. It describes the close attachment between parents and children, and the close ties of friendship. It denotes a strong emotional attachment for and a desire to be in the presence of the object of love.

To think that God has all of that, towards us!! This love is indescribable. All the words in the world can't even describe it.

God our Father loved and called us by name, summoned us to Him, as His own child. He taught us how to stand, to walk, to talk. He lead us by the arms, holding us and helping us stand. His mighty arms and hands held ours. He healed us from every sickness we can think of. Yet we paid no attention and walked away. He kept calling us, yet we ignored Him or chose to leave Him. We were determined. He loved us, and lifted the yoke off of our necks, placing it on His Son's. Providing for us, giving us the foods we need. We were determined to turn away from Him, yet He never gives us up, He never hands us over, He doesn't treat us differently. He is God and He loves us unlike a man would. Oh, how He loves us.