Being raised in large family, as a PK (pastor’s kid) and childminding/babysitting from a young teen, I’ve been around children a lot. Children are one of my greatest passions. They’re amazing. Any day I get to spend with children instantly makes the day a joy. However, having spent so much time with children, I’m also aware that there are moments and sometimes days in which the child/children you are with make you want to rip your hair out (if they haven’t already done it for you).

It’s in these moments that I’ve found it’s important and helpful to have a game plan. It’s easy to become overwhelmed, frustrated, emotional and stressed, but I’ve learned something that I’ve found helpful. It’s simply remembering that, despite what the child is doing, they are wildly, ridiculously, beautifully, and incredibly adorable. It sounds ridiculous, but it’s real. Next time you sit your screaming child on the step or watch one child whack another, take a second before you respond to remember how wonderful and adorable they are. I’ve found that everytime I respond/intervene keeping in mind how gorgeous Jesus sees them, the conversation is led by love. Of course, there have been times when I’ve not done this and when no matter how patient, loving and kind I am the situation doesn’t become easier. But, when I keep my heart in check, no matter how hard or long the struggle is or lasts (and it may last a long, long time), it ends with love and not frustration.

I’ve found this strategy to work every time, but recently, I had a brainwave. What if I applied the same strategy to all my relationships. What if, when I’m in the middle of an argument or feeling hurt and offended by someone else, I stop and remember how amazing Jesus thinks that person is. That He gave everything He had to be with them because He’s wild about them and thinks they’re insanely beautiful and wonderful; so much so that He didn’t count dying too high a cost. What if I stopped and realised that, because of Jesus, they’re adorable.

I’ve been trying to learn this recently. I’ve been trying to let this mindset transform my heart and conversations. People can be difficult. People can be downright ugly. But Jesus died for us even then. He sees us as wonderful, beautiful and lovable, not because we are in and of ourselves, but because He made us in His image. He is the Beautiful and Wonderful One. He is the One who is worthy of all our love and adoration. The wonder of it all is that He chooses to pour out His own goodness on us and invite us into His own glory and beauty. That’s wild.

So, note to self, next time you find yourself caught up in an argument, feeling hurt or offended, or watching someone do something wrong, remember that, because of what Jesus has done and who He is, they are adorable. We can adore them because God adores them and us. We’re called to love eachother (each person) with the same love that Jesus has for each of us. We’re called to have the literal mind of Christ and see through His eyes. It’s a wild invitation to look into the face of hate, ugliness, rejection, bitterness, despair and betrayal and see Jesus in them and us.

As patronizing as it sounds, because of Jesus, it’s true:

You’re adorable.

.

.

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Genesis 1:27 NKJV

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Romans 5:6‭-‬11 NKJV

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as  yet  there  were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.
Psalms 139:14‭-‬18 NKJV

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:4‭-‬5 NKJVor of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36 NKJV

 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:16 NKJV

 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
James 1:16‭-‬18 NKJV