"I Love You Because You Are You"... the AFM Version

Way back when, for Eli's first Christmas, Aunt Amy gave us a book (she gives really incredible books!)....

...and it's about this Mama Fox and her sweet little boy fox and how she loves him no matter how he is/what mood he's in -- happy, cheerful, sad, playful, frisky, angry, etc...she loves her little one.  The end of the book says "I love you any way you feel, no matter what you do.  I love you any way you are.  I love you because you are you. "

One night, as I was reading that story to our children, I felt like God was saying "I want you to share this with the crew of the Africa Mercy."  So I tucked that tidbit away for another day....

Long story short...I was able to share the story with our community a couple of weeks ago in our Sunday Night Church Service.  God wanted to remind us of His tremendous love for us and how nothing can separate us from His love.  In the end, I also shared an "Africa Mercy Version" of "I Love You Because You Are You" that God prompted me to write.  After a few requests, I've decided to share it here on our blog...enjoy!

2 things to note:  

• yes, some of the pictures were staged (most were not)
• the "line" referred to is talking about a barrier that is put up across all of the entrances to the dining room while the floors are being mopped...quite a few people onboard find it an inconvenience when they want to go in to get tea or coffee and find the line up (and some people take the liberty to go underneath the line which is not permissable!!)  

I Love You Because You Are You,

 the Africa Mercy Version

I love you when you’re cheerful and in the best of moods.

I love you when you’re whiny and complaining about the food.

I love you when you’re laughing, grinning ear to ear.

I love you when you’re frustrated, and wonder why you’re here.

I love you when your heart is breaking, listening to the cries.

I love you when you’re on the dock, saying hard good-byes.

I love you when you’re serving, giving all you’ve got.

I love you when you’re playing, entertaining quite alot.

I love you when you’re cleaning and picking up the bits.

I love you when you’re sad, and just want to call it quits.

I love you when you’re resting and need to take a break.

I love you when you’re at the line and thinking “oh, for goodness’ sake.”

I love you when you're singing and making people smile.

I love you when you're working, going the extra mile.

I love you any way you feel, no matter what you do.

I love you any way you are, Africa Mercy Crew…

I love you because you are you!

He does!  And I am grateful.  At our best...at our worst...when we're getting it all right or all wrong or somewhere in between...when we're at our highest...when we're at our lowest...He loves us.  Oh! How He loves us.  

His love for us is not dependent on us or on our performance - and I, for one, am so very thankful.  He does love us - so very much...and nothing can separate us from His love.  Hallelujah!

Surely there will be more to come.