God's Favorite?

Teachers see it a mile away. Parents who go a bit overboard and the child who assumes his position at the center of his parents’ universe. Think entitlement, high maintenance and high expectations. “Only Child Syndrome” is apparently a very recognizable disorder. At least, so it seems. At twenty-seven years old, (after two unsuccessful pregnancies), my miracle child was born. No sibling rivalry or competition; Corbin became my entire world.

One day in particular strikes me as memorable. I was helping my son to rid his small room of some large clutter. We would donate these “underutilized gems” to Goodwill. He was completely agreeable at first. That was, until I asked him to part with Clifford, The Big Red Dog. Clifford had become old and tattered (not to mention the fact that he was over three feet tall.) He had not been touched for years, and one eye had long ago been surrendered to an army of one-endowed with a permanent marker and a penchant for “all things quirky.”

I reasoned with my son that Clifford would prefer to be in a home with a child who might actually appreciate him. This finally convinced him, and I quickly made my escape to the donation site just before it closed. The next morning, to my surprise, my son awoke in tears. He could not believe that he had lost his “friend”, and he said that he missed his Clifford more than anything. The sobs shook his entire body. Nothing could console him, and his anxiety grew with each passing hour. His despair was so palpable that, although I felt foolish, I returned to the Goodwill store on a mission-- with cash in hand.

After searching the donation trailer, the patient woman explained that the dog was no longer there and may have been shipped to any other Goodwill site in Dade or Broward. I said with urgency, “You don’t understand….my son needs this dog!” The woman gave me a puzzled look and ventured, “Only child?” I responded, “Yes.” With a flash of insight, she gave me a comprehensive list of every single Goodwill store in Southeast Florida. She confided, “I too, have only one child and I would probably do the same thing.”

After many fruitless hours on the phone describing the Clifford situation to hurried store clerks, I finally resigned myself to a turbulent week of domestic drama. Thankfully, time was a great healer. This may not sound like a storm to you, but through six-year-old eyes, the situation rivals a tidal wave of epic proportions. The love of God is very much like a doting mother’s love. He never dismisses our concerns. He loves each of us individually and unconditionally. He has millions of children, and yet He knows each of us by name and has the very hairs on our heads numbered.

You have unlimited resources and a compassionate parent who has already gone to the ends of the earth to meet your needs. You have a personal relationship with The Captain of your life and that means family privileges! God has reserved a life vest with your name proudly inscribed on it. Other children may be caught in the tempests of life, but you will never find Him too busy to respond to your distress signal. The story of the shepherd who leaves the fold of ninety-nine sheep to find the lost one reminds us that every soul is equally important to the Lord. Indeed, you live in a family where every child is God’s favorite.

Generally speaking, May is considered to be a stormy month. Storms can knock the wind out of your sails, trigger fear and drastically impact your life. People may dismiss your concerns as minor, but to the ears of an attentive parent, your voice is music and delight. Reassurance is just a prayer away! Just think of the goodness of The Lord. He is an involved parent who will never neglect you. I have had friends from large families share that they sometimes felt invisible growing up. Thankfully, God has x-ray vision.

I remember once telling my son that he was "my best friend." With wisdom that belied his seven years, he tearfully responded, "I would rather just be family, because friends can walk out of your life, but family shares the same DNA bond!" I am so thankful to be part of the family of God! With Mother's Day approaching, let me posit that we have an unbreakable bond with Jesus because His blood has covered us, and every promise of God is now available as our inheritance! Despite our defects and dysfunction, He has "labored" over us and invested too much to walk out.

The Creator of the universe has chosen you for good reason and He is passionate about His relationship with you. He wants to spoil you and shower you with unexpected blessings because you matter. He brags about you because you resemble Him! He would have sent Jesus to die for you even if you were the only one. There is no excuse for you to settle. You have been seen and heard; you are not an orphan. It is time to EMBRACE YOUR PLACE!

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*This month's blog has been excerpted (in part) from my book, Storm Chasers. The original story can be found on devotional Day #14 titled: "God’s Favored in the Storm."

Isaiah 66:13 (NIV) As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you…

Psalms 30:7 (MSG) I'm God's favorite. He made me king of the mountain…

Psalm 84:11 (NIRV) The LORD God is like the sun that gives us light. He is like a shield that keeps us safe. The LORD blesses us with favor and honor. He doesn't hold back anything good from those whose lives are without blame.