Some mornings can go smoothly, as we set out to conquer whatever the day may hold for us, can’t they? Then there are other mornings when we may think we have plenty of time to get ready and be wherever we need to be or take children wherever we need to take them, yet, at the last minute, everything unravels.
This happened to our daughter recently, as she hurried to take the children to school on her way to work. She knows our grandson hates the sound of the kitchen blender—he has ADHD and finds it hard to cope with such a noise at that time in the morning. Usually, she makes sure he is somewhere else before she uses it, but this time, she was in a hurry and a huge meltdown ensued.
When they finally arrived at the school gates, our grandson was still very unhappy and angry, but apparently calmed down and made it through the day. And that night, he apologised to his mum, without even having to be prompted. But I loved how our daughter then talked more about it all with him in a calm, reasoned way. She asked him what he thought she should do to help him calm down and not be so angry, next time something like this happened. Would there be a code word she could use that would remind him she is on his side? He soon thought of one and, hopefully, this will indeed help next time! Yet, whatever happens, I believe she gave our grandson the most important gift ever through the wonderful, merciful, forgiving message contained in those four simple, little words she said to him, ‘I’m on your side!’
Our grandson knows his mother loves him unreservedly. He knows she has advocated for him so much through the years at school, where judgments and misunderstandings of his behaviour have abounded at times. He knows she will always be there for him and believe in him. And he loves her deeply in return. But sometimes, when his impulses get the better of him, he forgets all that in an instant, loses control and fights her. And so, time and time again, she asks him how she can help him better and reminds him, with such love and grace, ‘I’m on your side.’
And that, to me, is exactly what God has said and still says to us all each day. In sending Jesus Christ to live amongst us and die for us, God declared in no uncertain terms, ‘I’m on your side! I love you. I am for you, not against you! Yes, your wrongdoing matters so much—it has separated you from me and spoilt our relationship. But come, believe in my son, receive my love and forgiveness and let me welcome you with open arms into my family—forever!’
Every day, it fills me with such joy and relief to know God is watching over me, strengthening me and restoring me when I fail. I may forget and fight that love, just as our grandson does at times, yet God is still there for me and on my side—forever.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1
Jo-Anne Berthelsen's Blog 
What a beautiful post, Jo-Anne. That affirmation, I’m on your side, really sums up God’s love for us. Thanks for putting it into words so perfectly! 💜
Thanks so much, Kerry. I never want to convey the idea that God says ‘There, There’ to us, as if everything we do and say is fine, yet because of Jesus, God truly is on our side, which is wonderful!
Hi Jo-Anne,
This is such a beautiful reminder, especially when everyday demands seem to ask more of us than we can handle. And I love the reminder that the Father’s love for us truly is lavish.
Thank you.
Much love,
Mazzy xx
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Thanks so much, Mazzy – lovely to hear from you. And congratulations on the launch of your new book too, by the way–how exciting! I do love that word ‘lavish’–and all of 1 John 3:1, of course–and I often think we minimise God’s love for us so much when it truly is so vast and amazing and never-ending. So important just to take even a moment each day to rest in that love and remind ourselves that God is on our side. God bless
Thanks so much for the congrats, Jo-Anne. It is exciting. It is also testament to God’s lavish love and faithfulness.