I stumbled on a scientific study that still haunts me.
The study made the following observation: a child who plays in close proximity to a parent displays higher levels of creativity in activities and games than those who are farther away.
Read that again.
Imagine the scene as if you are the child.
Intrigued by the idea, I dug deeper.
Turns out that the children in the study remained highly creative as long as they stayed within a particular radius of their parent.
Within this circle of affection and affirmation, the children were willing to take risks and try new things as well as stand up and fall again.
The study found that the presence of a person who loved them unconditionally made all the difference.
This holiday season is prime time to learn to live loved .
Perhaps you’ve seen the Live Loved coloring book. These are the passages I use to ground myself in the love of God in the morning. Read through them. Circling the verbs. Interacting with the passages. Inviting God to ground me in the truth of His love. Drawing near to Him. Realizing how close God has drawn to me.
The Live Loved passages had become a vehicle to stand in closer proximity to God’s love. The affection and affirmation make me feel more courageous and fill me with a deep sense of security.
Within this closer radius of God’s love, the divine affection helps ward off the daily onslaught of negativity and criticism that comes from others and myself.
When I’m tempted to think, “If only I were_________” and begin filling in the blank with skinnier, smarter, funnier, more educated, more skilled, more organized, or more successful, love hushes me.
Love ushered me out of the prison of “if only” and into the presence of God where I am wholly accepted and adored.
Yet I don’t want to keep this love and the accompanying joy to myself.
One of the primary ways love expands and extends us is by drawing us out of our self-absorption. So much of our energy and thought life is consumed by what we’ll do, where we’ll go, what we’ll experience.
We soon become the lead character in the play of our lives. All too often we’re several acts in before we realize that little room for anyone else on stage. Those who try to enter become stagehands, or worse, props. The storyline grows thin and tired, with minimal connection or character development.
Living loved enables us to embrace a new script, one in which God is the star. We are cast members in His story—and everyone has an essential role to play.
God’s love prepares us to see others with sincere concern and make room for them in our lives. We become invested in others growth and well-being for their sake, not our own. When the thicket of self-focus is cleared, the shoots of compassion, gentleness, and tenderness emerge.
The secret of how to live loved is to draw near to God knowing that He has already drawn near to you.
My sweet friend, Jessica, designed these gorgeous Live Loved t-shirts just in time for the holidays. That’s her hand lettering—I’m so proud of her and grateful for her. You can find these nestled in our store as a reminder to Live Loved not just during the holidays but year round.
xoxo,
Margaret
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