I got a strange question this evening... "Mom"... "Why does God create kids who are handicap? Why doesn't He jsut make them like us? Why would He want to do that?"

It made me pause... Why Lord?? I know the obvious reasons from what the Word says but why? I began to think about how poeple have asked before if God is such a great God then why did He allow.....you fill in the blank. I know all the reasons but never had a thought about how God saw it.

While QUICKLY praying, not lose the moment, I began to explain the beginning of time. God's initial plan of perfection and friendship with Adam and his AMAZING partner, Eve. I have never really thought about God's view on the garden. I mean really thoguth about it. He wanted to be their friend! They rejected Him and have continued to do so throughout history despite all He has done. He returns again and again, sending prophets and pleading with the people, not for their goods but simply for their love! Time and time again He is rejected, downplayed, and disrespected. Hello... HE IS GOD!!!

Then I shift gears to explain how when sin entered this world, we all became sinners. Our souls are full of wickedness beacuse of the sin but by the death on the cross of Jesus, we have been made clean. God no longer sees what we have done. he forgets it. How many billions of people are there since the beginning of time? He has forgiven all who have repented. ALL!! Our great God mercifully forgave when He knew we would repeat our mistakes over agian. He gave HIS Son for our salvation knowing people would still reject even this great gift.

By this time, I am almost in tears, rejoicing in the life and freedom I have in  our God. All He has done despite my imperfections. How He loves regardless. Was so caught in thinking I forgot to answer the question but she didn't forget. "MOM?"

Yes.... Explaining that this world became full of sin and that brought with it disease, illness, and death was tough. She still was having trouble making a connection. I was not... My own mental picture brought me to a place of perfection without disease or death. Without heartache or worry. Heaven is coming soon, the Lord gently reminded me............ "MOM?"

"WHY MOM?" "God can heal anything so let's pray this person gets better"
"Why would God want to leave Him that way?"
My sweet Andrea.
Her heart is for others. She cares about nothing but chocolate and praying for others.
As I continue to explain about how God could take all the abd away but then we would never appreciate or choose any of it, we would just expect it, I heard the light bulb go off in her head..."OOOHHHH"
She got it. She understood that Our Father has to allow things to happen that are painful so that we would choose to follow HIM and not expect that everything will be ok. Sometimes there are no reasons for His doing, besides HIS complete glory.

As I continued to explain, I thoguht again about our Father. How He has loved us since before our birth as a parent would. Waiting for us to be born so He could send people our way to share HIS love with us. He has sent someone to share God's gift of eternal life through acceptance of Jesus to each and every one of us. He has some who are martyred for sharing with those who reject HIS loving message. He loves those who do the persecuting!! His loving outstretched hands became so real to me as I thought more and more about HIS great love.

"He allows this so that people will make a choice to serve HIM, rejoice in all He has given, and follow HIM, or push HIM away and not follow HIM." I said. How much simpler God's love just became as I thought as a child. Thank you Andrea for your innocence. Thank You Lord for teaching me, again.

"Then I will pray for him. I want him to follow Jesus. Maybe God will heal him one day. But if He doesn't, I know God has a plan" She followed this with a heartfelt prayer that I cannot remember but again brought me to tears.

Her simplicity and  hope is an example of what God wants for us. Just to trust He is good, His plans are awesome, we will not always understand it all but He is good to us all, and His love was shown once and for all when He sent Jesus to die for our sins. How simple is God's message of love?