A kitchen table crayon masterpiece of JJ. And yes, I have kept every picture they ever drew.

Four year old Lauren paused at her kitchen table crayon masterpiece.

“Why are you selling our horses mommy?”

I explained that we had raised them from foals and now that they were grown and broke to ride they were ready to go to new homes.  I also didn’t have time or use for all of them, so some of them just had to go.

Lauren set her crayon down, suddenly very serious.  “Who are you going to sell?”

“Well, Casino and Promise are ready to go for sure.”

“What about Danny?”

“No, I’ll always keep Danny.  He’s my show horse and very special to me.”

Shenanigans?

Yes, Shenanigans is for sale too.

Lauren studied the drawing our old quarterhorse she’d been working on.  “What about JJ?  Is he for sale?”

“No honey, I’ll never sell JJ, I’ve had him since he was a baby and he’s the one horse I can trust to look after you.  JJ is definitely a keeper, same as Danny.”

“Okay.”  Lauren nodded and picked up her crayon again, seemingly satisfied with my answer.

It was three days later and I was busy getting supper ready.  Lauren came wandering into the kitchen, her favourite blue blanket trailing along behind her.  I felt her silently watching me.

“Mommy?”

“Yes sweet Lauren?”

“Mommy?”

I turned and knelt down to her.  “What is it Lauren?”

“Mommy … am I a keeper?”

My heart crashed that my daughter would have doubted how valued and precious she was.  That she had suffered these three days in uncertainty.  I opened my arms wide and watched relief flood her face as she stepped into the security of my loving embrace.  I held my daughter close to my heart.  Right where she would always stay.  “My sweet girl, you are absolutely a keeper.  Always, always a keeper.”

    But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.                                                      John 1:12

 I remember when I was younger, I would question, “Was I really a Christian?”.  When I screwed up … would God still want me?

Perhaps you’ve wondered, “Am I a keeper?”

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.                                        John 10:27-29

 God knew that we would sometimes struggle with insecurity and doubt.  And so He gave an oath and put it in the bible where we can refer to it whenever we feel uncertain.  God’s promise to those who believe in His son Jesus, is that it is not on you to maintain your salvation and right standing with God.  You have become a child of God and as such, you are no longer a stranger, nor an orphan, nor abandoned, nor forgotten.

You are family.  You are loved.  And you aren’t going anywhere.