There must be a formula for being a great child of God, for wearing the crown well, for reflecting His goodness near and far. I just don’t know it yet.

But this I do know: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we shall be called children of God, and that is who we are!” 1 John 3:1

From Genesis to Revelation, we see that all He really wants is a great relationship with His children. I guess I know how He feels, because that’s all I want too: for my children to know the heights and depths of love; what it really means to live like you are loved; and to know the Cowboy and me, to know that although life gets rocky at times, our love is lasting. I want them to know our love is fierce and at the same time gentle; that our door is always open. Inside these walls they will always find a warm bed, a hot meal, the Word of God, prayer, a hug, a cup of tea, and a laugh. Nothing could hurt us more than them turning away from a relationship with us. 

When I think about our daughter these days I can get teary-eyed. We have traversed some jagged valleys and hugged on the heights. When she hurts, I hurt. When she is glad, I am too. It sometimes feels like my heart beats inside her chest. I feel the same way about our sons. When they struggle, I feel the push and pull. When they are all glee, my heart leaps too.

Life beneath our feet may feel like sinking sand, but our position as sons and daughters of God is rock solid. All it takes is the desire to have a relationship with Him. The lynchpin is faith that He gave His Son as a gift to our hemorrhaging world. Why? So that we could know the heights, the depths, the width of His love.

So there really is no formula. It’s a step of faith; a crown as gift; an inheritance that lasts; and a relationship with the Father. Not a bad deal if you ask me.

But what about when we mess up?

Last I remember, when our daughter messed up (or was it I who messed up, I can’t remember now?), it took a tear, an apology, faith, love, and forgiveness — the kind the wipes your slate totally clean. The offense is forgotten. Nothing she does will ever change the fact that she is our daughter. Nothing will ever remove our boys from the position of “Sons.”

So whatever happens, as the Spirit breathes in Revelation 3:11, “hold onto what you have so no one will take your crown.” Don’t ever let go of your position as a child of the King. Lay your crown at His feet when you need to. Get humble, get real, be honest about your sin. And if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.

Human beings cannot grant us entry into the family of God. The crown is a gift from the King himself.

Let’s wear ours well.