How a Trip to the Pool Reminded Me of God’s Love

Summer happens to be not a particularly favorite season of mine.  As a very fair skinned person, summer is a constant reminder of my need for sunscreen.  Lots of it. And often.

I have never been the type to just ‘lay out’ in the sun for the day.  Recently I was needing an extra dose of Vitamin D and decided to take my prayer time and new devotional poolside.

With a floppy black hat and pink lemonade in my favorite water bottle, I felt like Audrey Hepburn just relaxing in my lounge chair.

As I started reading, I noticed this little girl swimming in the pool with her daddy.  The little girl had a bright pink, sparkly suit on and was so excited to try and swim without her floaties.  She was completely enthralled by her dad.  She giggled, laughed, and called out to him in this sing-songy voice that just spoke of how much she loved her daddy.  She was so proud to show her dad how far she could swim and jump in all by herself like a big girl.  Even as she playfully splashed her dad or knocked off his glasses, he was very patient, loving, and tender with her.

And that’s when it struck me how this scene of a girl with her daddy is equal to God’s love for every single one of us.  God delights in each of us in an intimate, unique, and passionate way.  He is completely taken up and enamored by each of us.  It is such a radical and distinct belief in Christianity; but perhaps a most basic one that often I think many of us forget or do not truly understand.

It’s funny how a scene so little and unimportant can speak such volumes.  I’m a cradle Catholic and have always heard how much God loves me.  But one of the hardest journeys of my life has been the transition of that truth from my head to the depths of my heart.  Scripture constantly reminds us of the great love of God:  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life” {John 3:16}.

Slowly but surely I am learning and reminding myself of that simple, but earth shattering, truth: God loves me…not because of what I do or don’t do, but just because.  Because I am His and have been created to be in relationship with Him. Because I have been created for some purpose that absolutely no other person on this earth could fulfill.

So the next time you head to the pool or have to do some mindless task around the house-pay attention and listen closely, because maybe God has something important to say to you.

Patty Hubbard

Patty Hubbard

Patty is a Michigan gal working in youth ministry and new-ish wife learning to cook more than a Lean Cuisine. She is working on her Master's in Pastoral Ministry from Sacred Heart Major Seminary and plans to graduate in April 2015. A cradle Catholic with deep love of St. Maximilian Kolbe, John Wayne movies, and tasty mimosas over breakfast. You can come along for the adventure at www.amoderngrace.blogspot.com.

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