Guess How Much I Love You?

Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, than I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Over the past 12 years of parenting we have collected all sorts of bedtime books. Some get read once and relegated to the back of the bookshelf; others stay on top and close at hand. 

Guess How Much I Love You? has stood the test of time. If you aren’t familiar with this story, it features two characters – a big nut brown hare and a little nut brown hare. You can listen to the story here if you’d like. The little nut brown hare wants nothing more than to express to the big nut brown hare how much he loves and cares about him. “I love you as high as I can jump!” “I love you this much” as he stretches his arms out as wide as they can go, etc. Each time he does this, the big nut brown hare shows him up – “I love you as high as I can jump” and proceeds to jump higher; “I love you this much” and stretches his arms much wider than the little nut brown hare can. 

It’s a cute story, yet there is a part of me that feels for the little nut brown hare every time. He’s doing the best he can and yet being reminded every time that he’s not as big, strong, or capable. The big nut brown hare toots his own horn louder than anyone else. He’s like a peacock who puts on a display of his own power and might that makes others feel ridiculous.

2 Corinthians chronicles a time when Paul was facing a challenge from “super apostles” within the community who bragged about their religious experiences and used them as a means of gaining power and authority over others. Paul, of course, was no stranger to powerful  and life-changing encounters with God, yet he knew there would always be a limit to his own power. Furthermore, getting into an argument with the “super apostles” about whose religious experience was better would only prove their point that individual religious experiences were the most important marker.

Paul instead centered on his own limitations and weaknesses as his source of strength. His “thorn” kept him grounded in God’s grace and rooted in faithful obedience. The witness of Scripture points to a God who loved each of us so much he sent his Son; there is no greater love than this, and there’s no need to guess how much you are loved.

Keep the faith,
Pastor Ben