Do We Love God Back?

I read on a placard this week a touching story of a little girl and her dolly, I don't remember the author nor have I been able to find it again, but I would like to relay the story as I remember it, it made such an impact on me for a couple of reasons. I will put it in quotes to indicate that it was not me that wrote the story. I can't even remember if I posted it on my own timeline, even though I thought about doing it.

"There was a little girl holding a tattered and dirty little doll. She was weeping uncontrollably. Her mother saw her in the yard, concerned for her little girl she rushed to find out what was the matter.


The mother asked the little girl what was wrong. Replying with big tears rolling down her face she said , "it's my dolly." The mother looked at the tattered and dirty doll, one arm slightly torn off and hair missing on it's head and replied, "oh honey it's alright, I'll clean the dolly up, fix her hair and arm to make her just like new."

The little girl looked at her mommy and said, "but mommy I love my doll, I'm not upset that she is a little broken, I love her just like she is. Perplexed the mother asked, "then what is the matter."

The little girl bowed her head in sadness and said, "Mommy, I have loved on this doll, I take care of her, keep her safe and take her with me everywhere I go, I love her all the time, but Mommy, she never loves me back. She doesn't even see me or know who I am."

Isn't this the way we treat God, He gives us everything necessary in this life, while offering everything magnificent for eternity, even His own life, His love is immense, even to the point of death, but most will not love Him back.

AND, those who don't love Christ can't love anyone beyond what they can provide for them. Many if not most worldly friendships are based on what others can proved for us, whether it be physical needs, gifts or just the pleasure of praise from them. Many people will discard friends merely because they are no longer useful to them.

The best friendships are the ones when we are loved just because! These friendships are based on mutual give and take. When the friendship is reciprocal, pleasing the other person is our pleasure. Making our friend feel safe and appreciated delights us. Those who use people to elevate themselves have no love, they do not love others and they do not love God.

Evidence of Godly love in someones life is that they deeply care about others, it is not show to impress others, but a genuine concern for others, even when we will get nothing out of it.

1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death."

Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;"