Loved

Last night after I tucked Anja into bed and said our prayers and called out "I love you like a strawberry!", I heard her call out: "Mamma, why did Jesus make me?"

How surprised I was by that question. I question briefly why she would be wondering about something like that. "I think, He made you because He loves you and because He has a plan for you." She seems satisfied by that.

Then at Bible study, not an hour later we read Ephesians and I am struck by this verse:

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." Eph 1:4-6

I am struck that before the creation of the world, before anything was here and before we were even a speck of a though, Jesus chose us. He created us in love, adopted us as his children and has given us his grace, in accordance with his pleasure and because he wanted to!

What a beautiful reassurance that I was not a mistake. I was created with purpose, I am loved and I am showered in grace, by the God who created the universe, who holds all things in his hand! My only response can be to fall on my knees in thanksgiving and praise. And with joy I will be teaching my children that they too are here because they are chosen and loved.