"Just Because"

One of the things I've enjoyed most about my current situation is the time I get to spend with Kenna.  When Leslie was little, I was in the ministry full time and had a pretty lax schedule.  But we moved before Kenna was one, and her personality appeared while I was at work.  I've always regretted that I didn't get to spend the same time with her that I did Leslie, so this has given me an opportunity to change that.  Like yesterday, we sat down to lunch together while she watched My Little Pony.

And this morning.  I was driving her to Mother's Day Out, and we were making small talk.  For some reason, I asked, "Do you love me?"  Not sure why, really.

"Yes, Daddy," she responded, with a don't-you-know attitude.

Then, and I really don't know why I asked this, "Why do you love me?"  This is a dangerous question for a man to ask any woman, even his daughter.

She kinda giggled, and smiled, and said, "Just because."

In my rational mind, that wasn't an answer.  "Just because what?"

Still smiling, but with a firmness of a resolved answer, she said, "Just because."

(Now, the though process that I'm about to share took all of a second to go down.  I say that not to brag about my lightspeed thought process, but to point out exactly how quickly this went down.  Also to explain that my mind works that way to anyone who has ever been in a conversation with me and I said something that seemed random- I just made really quick though adjustments and didn't tell you.)

I grew a little irritated.  I wanted to know why she loved me.  For whatever reason, we humans need to qualify things.  We can't just say we love something, we have to prove why.  It's true in our tastes for food, for our political preference, for our favorite movies, for our faith, and for our affections.  She couldn't love me "Just because."  

That was unconditional love.

-Wait.-

That was unconditional love.   

That was the love that I was supposed to have for her.  And I do, but how often have I tried to qualify why I love her?  It's good things, like her creativity, her sense of humor and her beauty.  And for her sister, it is her mind, her athletic prowess and her beauty.  (Seriously, they are both gorgeous girls.)  It's other things for each of them (and for Kristin as well), but deep down I love them just because they are.  And she was saying she loves me just because I am.  

That's the kind of love we all long for.

That's the love that God offers us.  He says "I love you as you are.  I do not need you to be the smartest, the prettiest, the strongest, the most theological, the most faithful.  I don't even need you to be a good person.  I love you because you are.  Just because."

He does not love us for our quality- He loves us in spite of our lack of quality.  He doesn't love us because we are chaste or promiscuous, or because we are straight or gay, or because we are honest or liars, or because we are pacifists or murderous, or because we are Christian or Muslim or Atheist.  There are things He hopes we choose, paths and beliefs He wants us to hold, but He will not force us.  And if we choose His way, He is pleased and overjoyed and He loves us.  Any good we do should be just an expression of our appreciation.  If we go against Him, He is hurt, He is broken-hearted, and He acts in justice- and He loves us.  I believe even if we reject Him to point we go to Hell, He loves us- and He is devastated over our rejection of Him.  Because we are all His children.  He loves us. 

Just because.

I looked back at Kenna in the rearview mirror.  She sat there smiling and looking back.  She had no idea that God has just spoken to me through her.  "Hey, Kenna.  You know I love you, right?"

"Yeah."

"Do you know why?"

She smiles and shakes her head "No."

"Just because."