God. Feels. That. Way. About. Me.

So I've been having a lot of thoughts running through my head today, but lately I've been thinking about the phrase "Jesus loves me" and what that REALLY means.

I grew up hearing it so much that eventually I just heard it so often that it had about as much meaning as "See Spot run". To me, the thought of God loving me was the equivalent of my mom telling me that I'm cute. She has to say that...she's my MOM. God has to love me, He's my Father. His love is required. Obligatory. That's all true...but there's really no heart in it.

But then I started thinking about it...and I think I got a glimpse of what His love is really about.

There are certain people in my life that I love so crazily and so INCREDIBLY much that I think my heart's gonna explode whenever I see them. They absolutely amaze me. They're BRILLIANT. INSIGHTFUL. LOVING. DEEP. They have the most amazing and caring hearts, and so much wisdom, I love just talking with them and listening to their every word. I'll have moments where I'll just sit and stare at them (if we're talking in person) or at the computer screen (if it's an IM conversation) while they're talking/typing because I'm just completely AMAZED at how AMAZING they are! Whenever one of those people walk into a room, I'm internally conflicted---totally paralyzed---for a few seconds, wondering how I should respond. I don't know if I should jump up and down in pure HAPPINESS and JOY or run up to them and throw my arms around them in a huge hug (or SMACK ;D).

So I'm sitting here thinking about this...thinking about some of those incredible people, having one of those "oh-my-word-they-are-so-amazing-to-me-that-I-can-hardly-stand-it" moments, when something clicked. BIG click...

God. Feels. That. Way. About. Me.

WHOA.

He's the Creator of everything good, those feelings come from Him. And if I---little, imperfect me---can feel that INTENSELY about someone, how much more does the infinite, perfect, loving God feel about the people He created? About ME?

That FEELING...that oh-my-word-you're-just-so-wonderful feeling...God invented that. God created the definition of what it means to LOVE someone. He created those feelings and the passion and the intensity behind it. He is the ULTIMATE Expressor of that kind of love. He LIVES it. He KNOWS it. And He FEELS it.

That just COMPLETELY changed my way of thinking...God doesn't just tolerate me. He's not just putting up with me and my craziness because he HAS to. He LOVES me...passionately.

We're all His beloved, His much-loved, His chosen ones.

And since He loves us that much I bet he laughs at our stupid one-liners. Our silly moments. He also knows everything that's gonna happen before it even occurs...I wonder if He's up there, nudging the angels saying, "Psst! Check out My girl! She's HYSTERICAL. Watch...she's gonna trip UP the stairs! UP THE STAIRS!!! And wait for it...here she goes...she'll trip into that chair and then APOLOGIZE to it! To the chair! This is gonna be great!"

I bet He gets a laugh out of me when I'm home all alone, singing at the top of my lungs and dancing around the house like a complete maniac---"Hey look! Free concert!!"

I wonder if there are moments too, when He just can't stop staring...like when we live out our unique gifts and abilities, or when we speak wise words or show His love to people in our lives.

I want to be that person He stares at...and I am, he's already amazed with me just because I'm ME and He created it to be that way...WOW. I am LOVED.