The word “favorite” conjures up delicious images of mangos, chocolate mint ice cream, dark roast coffee, mozzarella pizza with fresh basil, the color pink, and the deep azure water of my favorite beach.
When my brothers and I were kids, we’d ask Mom and Dad, “Which kid is your favorite?” As if having a favorite kid were like having a favorite ice cream flavor. Mom and Dad always maintained that they loved each one of us equally, but we kept asking. We clamored to know which one of us my parents loved best. When my kids were little, they asked my husband and me the same thing: “Which one’s your favorite?”
Down inside, we all long to be someone’s favorite.
That’s part of the magic of falling in love and getting married. We dream that someone will treasure us and love us no matter what. That’s part of the magic of having a best friend. We long to know we’re chosen.
The world whispers an old lie that we’re no one’s favorite: Not worth much, nothing special, a real mess, in fact.
But there’s good news if we’ll listen:
We’re God’s Favorites.
We’re His favorite sons and daughters. “He loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” If you’d been the only person on earth, God would have sent Jesus to die for you. Just for you. God lavished His love on you when He sent Jesus to the cross. He’s chosen you to be His own special treasure.
You are Prized and Precious.
You’re His Masterpiece.
You’re the Treasure He delights in.
You’re the Apple of His Eye, hidden in the shadow of His wings.
And that’s a safe, secure place to be, don’t you think? No matter what the day brings, we can rest in knowing we’re God’s favorites.
Now it’s your turn: What are some of your favorites?
I’m linking up with Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday. Writers all around the world join in a flash mob of free writing. This week’s prompt is “Favorite.” Join us over at Kate’s place for fun and encouragement. Also joining with Grace & Truth, Susan B. Mead’s #DancewithJesus, and Barbie Swihart’s Weekend Brew.
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Beautifully said.
Good question – what does the word ‘favourite’ bring to mind..?
I guess, right now, music I could dance to, if I felt well enough to move, much less dance. The Cure’s “Friday I’;m In Love” comes to mind.
SO GLAD to hear from you today, Andrew. Do you know just last night I was thinking of you and wondering if you were hanging in there. Loved reading some of your comments on other #fmfparty posts.
Thank you so much, Betsy! I’m still here…and learning more and more of God’s inexhaustible grace, the grace that invites me to work with Hi, to make a scary situation something that can support, in a small way, the Great Commission.
Your post brings all kinds of memories, both good and sad, and I believe you are on to something with your thoughts about “wanting to be someone’s favorite.” Thanks be to God that the search is over!
Amen, Michele! The search is over! Hallelujah!
We are each God’s favorite….love it, Betsy. Sounds odd, but I hadn’t thought of it in the way you mentioned So glad you wrote these words. They’re a fantastic way to step into a Friday.
Thanks, Kristi! I hope your Friday is double blessed! You’re one of his favorites for sure!
My brother and I still believe that the other one is Mom and Dad’s favorite!! LOL My kids argue about the same thing. All in fun of course, because they know I adore each of them. And now that the grands are here, they both agree that those 3 are really my favorites. We do all long to be someone’s favorite and I often forget that I already am. Thanks for the reminder!! xoxo
Ha! That is so funny! We argued too. My brothers said it was me. I always said it my little brother (youngest) who always got away with murder. I love being God’s favorite though.
Mint chocolate chip ice cream is my FAVORITE!!! lol. And my kids did the same thing to us – in fact, that’s where I went with fmf today. I love your reminders at the end – my favorite being the apple of His eye – Scriptural truths right there. Always love your stuff!
Thanks, sweet Ruthie. I wish we could eat a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone together. 🙂
Me too! 🙂
What a sweet truth to be met with this morning.
…And, He’s MY favorite too. <3 Love Him.
Thank you for sharing, Betsy!
((Hug))
Thanks you right back for stopping by, Brenda.
Well now you know my fav is dark chocolate. I was just thinking as I am writing this to you that God feels so much more love and gets so much more enjoyment out of me than I do dark chocolate. I like that thought.
You are so right on with this, “down inside, we all long to be someone’s favorite”. It compels us to action in many ways.
Love those sweet reminders and love you friend!
Ooh, dark chocolate, one of my favorites too. Thanks for being here today, Carmen. You’re one of His Favorites, Girl!
Thank you for reminding me of His love. There are always times when we need a reminder and this was the perfect timing for me! Blesssins
Blessings back to you, Susan. Happy 4th of July weekend!
And then God uses beautiful women, sisters, friends, like you, whom I have never met to remind me…
that’s why He’s my favorite!
Aw thanks, Tondra, for your beautiful words here today.
Love this! And so glad we are His favorite! How He loves us each uniquely and with all we are! 🙂 Some of my favorites are hanging with my family, reading and knitting! 🙂
You’ve got some great favorites, Rachel! Your post encouraged me to hang with my family today. 🙂
So glad that we are His treasured and prized possession. It just blesses my heart beyond measure to think on that. Blessings, friend.
Loved reading your favorites too, Tiffany! #fmfparty !
Beautiful post, Betsy! Sometimes we forget the depth of His love for us, as individuals. I appreciate this reminder. 🙂 Stopping by from Grace and Truth again.
Jen @ Being Confident of This
Thanks so much, Jen. I appreciate your visit today.
Betsy, your post made me smile. When my mom was sick she had a time of confusion as a result of her meds. When one of my brothers was at her bedside she said “Now, you scoot.” And when another was there and kissed her goodbye for the night, she said “Oh, you’re not leaving are you?” The first brother & I then joked that the 2nd was always her favourite. It makes me feel good to know we could laugh at those moments. There were many funny ones but that was one of my, uh, favourites.
Oh Jeanne, thanks for bringing some cheer to my day with your bittersweet story. That’s a favorite story, indeed. I always thought my little brother was my mom’s favorite because he got away with murder. Now my daughter thinks my SON is her favorite grandchild out of 6… Who knows?
Hi Betsy , I am God’s favourite, how cool is that?
I’m glad I read this article. Made my day.
God bless you.
Yes, you ARE, Ifeoma. God’s favorite!
Yeah!!!!! I’m God’s favorite and so are you! Isn’t HE amazing?
Yes, He is, Susan!
Betsy, what a beautiful post! My sisters and I used to ask that exact same question, and our boys do it still. There’s something about feeling significan to someone else, special in some way, that drives us to ask that question. And you’re so right, to God we are all His favorites. Such an amazing thought! Your post gives me good thoughts to meditate on as I head into my day.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!
I was glad to discover your blog, Jeanne. Thanks for stopping by here. I think a lot of us used to ask that same question to our parents!
Your thoughts parallel my own thoughts about being the favorite. God had this figured out even before we were born when He chose each of us and gifted us with our own uniqueness. Thank you for the reminder. I evidently need to hear it over and over again.
Oh, I think we all need to hear it again and again, Mary. God DOES have it figured out.
Reblogged this on Inspirational and Encouraging Blogs.
Well as a middle child, let me tell you that it did helped strengthen my faith. The elder sibs and the younger ones are someone’s favorite but I was left “neutral”. Haha. I’ve found comfort in being God’s child and that I think made me content and at peace.
Oh Lux, I kind of know what you mean. The middle child’s spot is a hard one. Glad you’ve found peace in being God’s child. His favorite. 🙂