last week was our parent vision trip, a week where our parents had an opportunity to come and do life with us on the field. we got to do “ask the Lord” ministry together, worship, try new food (even a scorpion), shop the markets, go on some fun adventures (pet baby tigers, bathe elephants, zip line). we laughed, we cried, we shared stories, and made plenty of new memories.
i’ve heard it said many times, “the most important thing is what you think when you think of God.”
spending a week with my parents after eight months apart really showed me what I think when i think of God the Father.
if you know me at all, you know how much I adore my parents. i’ve probably talked about them way too much on the Race but i’m perfectly fine with that. I have always known my parents are outstanding humans and looked up to so many qualities they carry, but this week my eyes were fully opened to the parallel that God the Father holds with the unconditional love and forgiveness my parents have shown me my whole life.
I naturally put a decent amount of pressure on myself to be good enough to people and good enough to God. it is hard for me to accept and receive the love and forgiveness that God and people offer me. I like to dwell and overthink and beat myself up when I don’t live up to personal expectations I set for myself.
my loving mother and father exude in unconditional love for me. time and time again they show me love and forgiveness when I fall short. when I put extra pressure on myself, they graciously would point me to truth of their love for me.
I knew this love that they have for me, but i was shown how hard it is for me to fully accept it. I felt as if I needed to work harder to earn love or outdo my wrong with good. yet I know that my parents love me and do not hold a record of wrongs, they simply love me because I am their daughter.
reflecting on pvt, I was blown away by this truth and the Lord showed me the connection to His love and forgiveness over my life. i often relate to God in this same way, feeling the need to earn His love and affection, feeling the need to win His heart with good deeds after I fall short. I could hear Him speaking over me, “I love you. you are my daughter and for that reason alone I love you.”
I am thankful for the way that the Lord used pvt to open my eyes to His heart for me to finally accept and receive the love He has been offering me day after day.
so here’s to growing to fully walk amongst the Lord’s favor and grace in my life.
Thank you Jesus, thank you mom + dad, thank you to this crazy life!!!
walking in Truth,
ashton paige
