Reverse Engineering - God Loves Me, But You're His Favorite

I shared the following in another post:

I was looking for a gift for a friend recently, and came across this on mugs, t-shirts, mouse pads, etc. I believe I can relate to the sentiment, and still find it to be a bit obnoxious. You see, I know I'm not God's favorite, but in all the ways He loves me, provides for me, cares for me and carries me, it's hard to NOT feel like His favorite. It is the longing of my heart that you also experience this intimate relationship with Him. There's none like it!

Which brings me to this story, which I didn't have a good title for yet. Thank you Holy Spirit, for the double perspective!

This is about Trish. She is my son's mother-in-law. My daughter-in-law's mother. Our family has known Trish for as long as we've known McKenna. She is grandma to three of my grandkids, and she is Grandma Trish to the other four.

Trish is much like me in many ways. She is big, bold and outspoken. She doesn't walk into a room unnoticed...for long. And as the matriarch in her family, she imposes her wisdom, sometimes with grace, sometimes through common sense, sometimes through motherly guilt and sometimes by her sheer ability to be unyielding. Yes, for good or for bad, we are a lot alike.

As moms, and grandmas, we've shared showers for weddings, and for births. We've celebrated those weddings and birthdays, and loved each other through all the holidays. We've shared life together. We've shared joy together.

But Trish and I have also shared sorrows with each other. Because we've shared loss. Through two deaths and two funerals. We've seen our kids grieve, and have grieved with them and each other. We've seen our kids fall, and were there if they needed our help to get back up again. And they did get back up. Mostly without our help, but what they needed, they got.

Trish is family, and I love her.

Trish is also a believer, which is why I chuckle at the memory of this, sent via McKenna requesting prayer for McKenna's brother, who was hospitalized and undergoing some pretty serious testing...Call Kathy, she's got a direct line.

So, first things first. McKenna's brother is fine! Prayers work!

Secondly, Kathy is my northern name. In the south, I go by Ruby. It's a geographical distinction that will be explained at some point!

Let's get back to the main point. My direct line to God. It's there, that's undeniable. But so is Trish's, so is yours. There is no exclusivity in prayer. God hears them all. God answers them all. But Trish has seen God answer mine in unbelievable ways. Let me state again, for the record, this does not reflect on anything good or special about me. I am neither of those things.

I receive big things from God, because I ask for big things from God. That reflects God's unending love and care for a heart that petitions for His goodness, and surrenders to His will.

And He has delivered, time after time after time, not just because I'm willing to surrender to His will, but because I am praying in His will. These things that I have asked Him for has been for peace, comfort, wisdom, joy, etc., but not normally for myself or the way I would have things turn out, and never for my glory! I love to point at something in my life and say, "see that, that was God!"

So, lift up your prayers, In hope. With expectation. With trust. Through faith. And in His will, and not your own. He's got your back, just like He's got mine.

Here is another item I came across while shopping for my friend, and I think this closes my story beautifully!