The daisies are scattered in the fields, their yellow faces laughing in the last days of summer. They dance in the breeze. They shine in the sun. They dare me to play that old, familiar game–“He loves me, He loves me not.”
I remember this game. As a child, I would sit on a rock in the garden, plucking the petals one by one, trying to tease out some future romantic fiction. It is a little girl’s dream. To be lovely. To be loved.
And one day, I did know love. Love from the Father, pure and true. Love for me, the unlovely. Love from the Son framed on crude bars of mercy. Love that held Him there. Love from the Spirit, who works His will in me, keeping me close to His heart.
So why, then, do I sometimes live my life in the way of daisy petals? I struggle to understand this great love. I think that my good performance brings His favor, and that my “mess-ups” bring His frown. He loves me, He loves me not. In my head, I understand justification and “alien righteousness.” In my heart, I wonder if I’m measuring up.
And the truth is, of course, that I don’t measure up. There is only One who does, whose life was perfectly plumbed against the straight edge of the law. And He gives me His faultless standing.
So I find myself repenting . . . daily asking Him to pull me from the teeth of the performance trap and to help me live in the good of His grace. He asks me a pointed question: “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3: 3) And He reminds me that I am chosen, holy and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12).
Soon the long shadows of summer will lean into autumn. The daisies will yield to October’s frost. But I’m thankful for the “now,” when these happy flowers tell me of a glorious and unyielding truth: He loves me!
By Julie Ruegsegger @ tracing grace
Leave a Comment
Michelle Pelletier says
Hi Julie,
I’ve never seen this web site but thanks so much! Your encouraging words came at the perfect time.
Love In Crist
Michelle
Julie says
He loves you, Michelle! Oh to daily live in the good of that truth!!
He Loves Me! | tracing grace says
[…] stop now!! Please keep reading He Loves Me over at (in)courage […]
Terry says
Hi Julie – Did you know that daisies were R and my wedding flower? How sweet to read your post today….being reminded of God’s awesome, powerful, beautiful love lavished on us who believe. Thank you, sister! I may look at daisies in a whole new way….he loves me, he loves me, he loves me!! (Actually, R pencil-sketched a daisy for me back in 99 where he wrote those exact words….) LU
Julie says
I love that! Daisies have new meaning for me now too–thinking of the beauty of your marriage!
Holley Gerth says
It’s been one of those weeks where I needed this reminder! Thank you!!
Julie says
It’s a privilege to be a part of the incourage community where I am often reminded of His gracious ways!
Sheila says
Thanks Julie! What a beautiful addition to my day!
Love you my friend and miss you!
Sheila 🙂
Julie says
Your smile is always a beautiful addition to my day! Love living in the good of the gospel right along with you, my friend!
Amy says
What a wonderful reminder! One of the best things about God is that there is never the “He loves me not” with Him. He always loves us.
Julie says
In Christ, all is well. The debt is paid and all we know is love. Incredible!
Jennifer says
Oh I know the “performance trap” well! I’m learning not to play games, but it’s hard.
Mary R says
The core of our faith so beautifully expressed. Yes! HE loves me!!
Elberta says
Julie,
What freedom I have, that I am loved..not because of how I perform..but because He loves me inspite of my inperfection!! Jesus has made me lovely to the Father!!! Who could ever do this for me??!! I used to look at the daisy after all the peddles were plucked off and thought how ugly the daisy looked after, then I would have to gather another one to have it come out to the hoped response of “I am loved”……always bouncing back and forth between “I am loved…I am not loved” and I was not a pretty picture after either after my constant wondering of “am I loved”. I don’t need to do that anymore, though at times I am tempted to start sizing myself up again, and have found that my sisters such as you remain a constant encouragement to not look to the daisy anymore, but to the one who made the daisy.
Love, Elberta
Julie Ruegesegger says
Ah, yes, Elberta! I remember doing the same thing–how many daisies until it comes out the way I want it to? How much do I have to do to be loved? Then learning that His grace and mercy “have no corners”–how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. And thanks for the daisies–they were from you!
~Julie
Julie Sunne says
Such a simple concept, Julie, yet we struggle with the truth of God’s love! Although I often play that game with His love–“I love you … I love you not …”– I have never thought of it in that way. From now on, I will search out daisies and remember–there are no “love me nots” with God!
marcie williamson says
Julie…thanks for the reminder of His deep love for us, His daughters! What a privilege we have to serve a Father such as Himself. Blessings on you today my friend!
Dawn says
hey,
I love your post. I need to rest more in My Loving Father and Savior’s arms, when my home is oh so empty. I have come to really see how much :He Loves Me!”these last few years
I was reading another post by Ann Voskamp–thank you for being that woman in my life who taught me to trust, to love, and that I needed someone to share my days with,to risk the hurting. You taught me to believe that someone just wanted to be my Friend. Thanks for girls night ins!
I rejoice in God’s work in your life!
Kimm says
Thank you for this gospel drenched post. Oh the beautiful truth of His love for us that tells us to rest because it has all been done for us!