Do You Know How Much I Love You?

Do You Know How Much I Love You?

His unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

“Do you know how much I love you?” I asked my son Abe one night as I tucked him into bed.

“How much, Mommy?” he replied.

I had to think for a minute about my rhetorical question, not actually expecting to need to explain how much, a bit unsure about where to even begin. How much do I love this boy?

“Oh, buddy, I love you more than this bed, more than our house, more than even food,” I said. And he laughed—not a giggle, but an all-out, throw-your-head-back belly laugh.

I smiled. “How much do you love me, honey?” I asked.

Grinning, he told me, “I love you more than my bed, my toys, and my clothes.”

“Wow, that’s a lot,” I said.

This became our thing. He’d ask me, “Do you know how much I love you?” and I’d reply, “How much, Abe?” Then he’d list all the things he loved me more than, and I in turn would do the same.

One summer, while on vacation, my son asked me this question as we walked to our cabin from the pool. As I responded to him, I heard God speak softly to my heart: Do you know how much I love you?

“How much?” I whispered.

I love you more than this creation, more than you love your children, as much as my own Son.

And my thoughts stopped, just for a moment. I was in awe of just how much God loved me, just as I do my own children. Loving me enough to sacrifice his own Son. Reminding me that he is a good Father and friend to all.

God compares his unfailing love toward us to something so vast we can hardly understand it—the distance from the earth to the stars. Such great love is humbling and comforting. Even though our lives may take unexpected turns and things don’t always work out the way we planned, the one thing we can always depend on is God’s love.

— Kendra

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Make a list of all the ways God has been a faithful friend to you, then give him thanks for his great love.