My best friend heard a talk last summer and passed the main thrust of it on to me. In it, the speaker held up a large sunflower (one of my favourite symbols of God’s love – hence why they are plastered all over my website and album!) and talked about how we play ‘He loves me, He loves me not’ with God. Pulling off the petals of the sunflower as she spoke, she gave examples of how we can so easily fall into this trap:
“I got a new job… He loves me!
I can’t sell my house… He loves me not!
I suddenly sell my house…He loves me!
I am diagnosed with Cancer… He loves me not!”

Familiar to most us isn’t it? And yet it is so dangerous to allow our circumstances or feelings to be any kind of barometer of God’s goodness. He is good… ALL the time, whether we see it, feel it or not. He is never cruel, capricious or unkind, whether life appears to mirror this, or not. God is a ‘He loves me’ kind of God. That much, the Bible is utterly unoquivical about… even the gory bits of the Old Testament some would like to take a pair of shears to. Every act, every word, every thought in the heart of God is good. It is His DNA.

I want to be that kind of person. I don’t want to just love people when it’s easy, or fun. Some of the people God has called us to care for are neither. But my life’s purpose is to be an ”I love you” kind of girl. I suspect this is what Father wants of you too.

The following was found written on the wall in Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta. It’s about being a consistently loving person, unchanged by the world surrounding you. I find it provokingly beautiful and timelessly challenging.

“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between them and you anyway.”

Next time you see a sunflower (they are about to be in season- YAY!) remember that there is NEVER a day when you can say ‘He loves me not’ of God.

Could people say this of you and me though?