Believe it or not, these cheers didn’t come from me.  I was squinting into the sun at 9am on a Saturday morning, doing my best to reinvent myself from the “crazy loud mom” to the relaxed “golf clap” mom. It was the first game of the season and I had decided that THIS season I was going to be chill. For someone like myself, it was taking HERCULEAN effort to keep my mouth shut. Every few seconds I’d stifle the impulse to engage in sideline coaching and remind myself that it doesn’t *actually* help my 13-year-old play better when I yell encouragement or instructions…especially since I’ve never played a day in my life!  “Just a game. Just a game…” was my inward mantra.

But there’s this guy about 15 feet away, whose son is also on the team, with a huge booming voice. He would cheer for everyone’s kid, not just his own. And as I watched and listened I thought about how good it feels when someone else acknowledges your child. I had nothing to do with the exchange between the guy on the sidelines and the kid on the court, but I ended up feeling warm fuzzies about it the whole game. I absorbed the cheers as if they were for me…they filled up my tank!

Parents, isn’t it always like that?  When another person shows love or kindness to your kid, you’re the one who feels loved?  Someone initiates a conversation with them and gets them talking. Someone sends them something in the mail. Someone offers a fist bump or a hug or a word of encouragement. Someone compliments them, ignites their dream, or prays for them…doesn’t it feel as if it’s happening to you?  I swear, loving on my kids is my kryptonite, my weakness…it is above all else the way to my heart. You love them and I’m putty in your hands!

Today God whispered to my heart on the sidelines of a middle school basketball court:

I’m just like that.  

One way to my heart is when you love on MY kids.

I’ve been thinking about this…mulling it over. I would bet that every time we show love and kindness to someone else, God is watching and feeling loved himself. With every act of selflessness, with every word of encouragement – I think the Father takes notice and receives our small offering as a gift of praise to him. 

The intended recipient may not even receive the love in the way you want or expect. They actually might not even notice – the way a basketball player doesn’t hear every word of the enthusiastic spectators. That’s ok. God is there, and he sees and feels every time our hands, feet, and voice move at the impulse of His love towards one of his own.

The flip side is also true. Parents, think of the last time someone bullied your kid or made them question their worth. The last time someone injured them physically or emotionally. Wasn’t the sting in your own heart excruciating? I think God feels those pangs when I’m hurtful or careless with my words or actions with one of his kids. It makes me want to “handle with care” everyone in my path, even those with whom I disagree or the ones that are harder to love.

God I love your kids, but may I learn to love them more. Help me cheer from the sidelines for your dear ones. Put ideas in my mind, resources in my hands, and words in my mouth to accomplish this. Help me live out your instructions in John: 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”