Very Bad, No Good Day, but Still Loved

Reading the Old Testament, it is amazing how many times the Israelites disobeyed God.  Unlike today where faith and prayer are the way to a personal relationship, they actually got to see God and hear God verbally.  He spoke to them and appeared in clouds and fire.  Today His miracles are usually subtle like a great parking spot or a lost job just in time to earn a great job, but back then His miracles were miraculous.  Plagues that ravaged the land did not touch the Israelites. They walked on dry land through the middle of a sea. When they complained about that boring old manna everyday, God sent them quail to eat.  To be that close to God and to just turn your head and disobey? I don't get it.

So what is the good news?  The good news is that God's continued forgiveness, continued blessings for the Israelites offers a great picture of a loving father. The old testament demonstrates again and again the character of God as patient and loving.

How to express God's character to Preschoolers?  This is hard for them to understand, but easily described through their relationship with their mom and dad.  How many times has a preschooler spilled something on the floor?  How many times have they "accidentally" broken a toy? How many times did they spill their dinner down their shirt? Mom and Dad may have gotten mad, but they didn't stay mad. They still love you.

Have you ever had a very bad, no good, day?  When you woke up, you got caught in the sheets and tripped, falling out of bed. Since you were so tired and surprised, you had an accident and did not make it to the potty. Mommy was sad, but she still loves you. You didn't like what you got for breakfast and when you pushed the dish away, you pushed too hard. It fell to the floor and made a mess. Mommy was mad, but she still loves you.  You watched cartoons nicely but became bored. You decided to be a helper and decorate the wall with your crayons. Mommy was mad you colored the wall, but she still loves you. Mommy sent you outside to play. You enjoyed following a lady bug, but soon the bug flew away.  You decided to dig and see what other bugs you could find. How were you supposed to know that was her favorite kitchen spoon that you used for a shovel?  Mommy was mad but she still loves you. After lunch you had a play date. You shared your toys but your friend would not share their toys. You had to bonk them on the head to get them to share. Mommy was mad, but she still loves you.  Dinner went much like breakfast. Broccoli, yuck. Didn't shove them on the floor, but mommy did not like you pushing them off your plate and onto the new table cloth. Mommy was mad, but she still loves you.  Bath time and we are out of bubbles. Ho hum. Bed time finally, Mommy reads a book, sings a song, says prayers and kisses you good night. Mommy loves you. 

For every time we say Mommy, we could also say Daddy. Daddy sometimes gets mad, but Daddy always loves you. God is the same.  He loves us no matter what happens.

A fun visual aid is a pet.  If it is o.k. with your church, bring a child loving pet. Pets make mistakes. They don't make it to the potty. They chew things that are not food. They scratch furniture, floors and walls. Pets have very bad, no good days, but we love them anyway.