Just Like Jesus

Just Like Jesus 

"When my daughter was a toddler, I used to take her to
a park not far from our apartment. One day as she was
playing in a sandbox, an ice-cream salesman approached
us. I purchased her a treat, and when I turned to give
it to her, I saw her mouth was full of sand. Where I
had intended to put a delicacy, she had put dirt.

Did I love her with dirt in her mouth? Absolutely. Was
she any less of my daughter with dirt in her mouth? Of
course not. Was I going to allow her to keep the dirt
in her mouth? No way. I loved her right where she was,
but I refused to leave her there. I carried her over to
the water fountain and washed out her mouth. Why?
Because I love her.

God does the same for us. He holds us over the
fountain. "Spit out the dirt, honey," our Father urges.
"I've got something better for you." And so he cleanses
us of filth; immorality, dishonesty, prejudice,
bitterness, greed. We don't enjoy the cleansing;
sometimes we even opt for the dirt over the ice cream.
"I can eat dirt if I want to!" we pout and proclaim.
Which is true---we can. But if we do, the loss is ours.
God has a better offer." 

  -- Max Lucado