An Overflowing of God's Love

   So today at the preschool I read the book "You Are Special", which I like to refer to as Punchinello, to the kids. I know the story as I have read it before and even had to do a mime drama to the japanese reading of the story. However, as I was reading the part where Eli and Punchinello are talking and Punchinello asks Eli why he cared so much about him, I lost it a bit. The truth and powerful love behind Eli's reponse touched my heart and I could feel God's love for people, no matter who they are or what they look like, overflowing. When Punchinello asks why, Eli responds with, "Because you are mine." Just thinking about it I am astounded and moved by it again.

   God loves each and every one of us and many people, much like Punchinello, don't realize this and they let the labels and judgments that this world places on them determine their worth. But, as it states in the book as well as the bible, God (Eli in the book) created each of us, and he created us the way we are on purpose. He has loved us since before we were born and rejoices over each of us in our birth.

   It's hard, when cruel things are said to you or when people make judgments about you, but above all that God loves us. The only words that should truly matter to us are the ones that come from him. Jesus is the judge, not man, and he paid the price that we may know our Father intimately and that such things can be cast behind us.

   My thoughts dance with the truth that, if these children can truly understand how special they each are and readily accept the love of God and what he thinks about them, that will be so much weight that will never be put on their shoulders because the judgments of this world will not stick to them.

   Wah, to be able to express all that makes my heart happy! Watashi no kokoro wa ureshii, hontoni ureshii desu! I want to see it. A world changed by children who carry this, who share this and love on others regardless. I want to see kids doing what they are called to do and not having to wait until they're "old enough" to do it.

1 Timothy 4:12
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."

   This is the truth that I want to empower children with. I want to see them moving in healing, prophecy, and in reaching to others. I am excited for this and I know God is going to do absolutely amazing things.