Life Is Our Brief Chance To Tell God I love You Too

In a devotional I read this morning, Henri Nouwen challenged me to take a look at my true identity. He challenged me to embrace this truth that my true identity rests in understanding that God loves me - he loved me before I came to this earth and he will long after I'm gone. 

I suppose many will read that and think, well that's just a little too simple or too dismissive of life's challenges. And I get that. 

But I think back on the kids I worked with over the years. I think back at kids who seemingly had it all together, were successful at all they did, but were struggling mightily because they felt unloved by their parents or other important people in their lives. And then on the flipside of that, I think about kids who had more struggles than one can begin to imagine, but found healing when they discovered someone loved them. 

I think it's possible a lot of people are going through identity struggles right now. Things in life that made them feel like life was all together are suddenly on pause or are on shaky ground or are gone. To the degree those things defined their identity - who and what they are - they may be lost right now.

I have been there. I have been in this spot of losing my identity as things of this world were lost - mostly through my own reckless choices. But through that - I was gifted a new identity that is bullet proof. 

I am a child of God. When my life is good - there is nothing so good in my life that makes my identity greater than that truth. And when my life is challenged - like by a virus - no challenge is so bad that healing can't be found in remembering I am a child of God. 

I love how Nouwen closed his devotion. He said this life, it is our brief opportunity to embrace the chance to tell God, I love you too. I thought - what a great personal test - every day - every choice - does this choice say, God, I love you too? 
​
Because if our true identity is found in knowing God loves us, then no matter if times are good or times are bad, we never run out of opportunities to say God, I love you too. 

Especially when we know God feels our love most through the love we share with one another. So embrace that opportunity, today, while it's there, to say God, I love you too.