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A mother of eight children was asked: “Do you love all your children exactly the same?”  Without hesitation she replied, “It depends on what they need.”  This made me wonder about how God loves us.

I’m sure God loves everyone equally.  Yet, I’m certain there are times as this mother so lovingly stated, it depends on what they need at any given moment when God responds as a loving and caring parent.

For instance, Tom lost his wife tragically in a car accident while driving to their brand-new retirement bungalow in Florida.  Tom was distraught – feeling alone and guilty.  Our loving and caring God poured over Tom extra grace with refreshing consolation because that’s what Tom needed.

God always provides what’s needed, because He understands what’s lacking.  If it causes our destiny to happen more smoothly, God willingly steps in. Why?  Because God wants none of His adopted children to perish. Rather, He only wants them to succeed.  God didn’t send His Son to die in vain on that rugged cross. He died to assure all God’s creation a safe arrival in heaven. 

As a result, Tom received enough grace to catch a glimmer of hope in the darkness of his grief, which resumed his moving forward again.  Tom wandered in his hopelessness until God improved Tom’s attitude giving him exactly what he needed.

God made us in His image and likeness and then us gives gifts and talents to grow into that likeness.  God’s dream is that Jesus be our model.  God is not looking for uniformity, only that our manner be a close resemblance to His Son.  God uses this as the measurement. As St. Francis de Sales wrote: “Be who you are and be that well as a testament to the Master Craftsman who made you.”

 Even in what seems a small thing to everyone else, God sees a little differently.  Eleven-year-old Michael trained long and hard for the light-weight wrestling championships at St. Peter’s grammar school. He gave it everything he had to overcome a crippled right leg handicap.  But he lost.  The crowd shook off the loss quickly, but not Michael who saw his loss as a setback and his leg a weakness.  

God’s love for Michael helped him endure his failure quickly.  God can do this, because God always sees the big picture.  He wants Michael to push on to live his life to the fullest.  Indeed, God loves everyone equally, but gives his love according to what is needed at any given time.

God wants us to be who we are, but act like His son when we can.  He knows when to help.  His help becomes our power and strength. And people not only see His Son, but His Son in us. When we do this, God beams from the sidelines with sheer delight.  

 Each tiny act is an extraordinary event where heaven is given to us and we are able to give heaven to others…Whatever we do it is just the outer shell of an astonishing inner reality…                                    Madeleine Delbrêl