1 John 4:9-10- A picture for you, Ellie Kate.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10


When Ellie Kate was about two years old, I decided I wanted to do something special for her.
When I decided what I would do for Ellie Kate, the idea arrived early one morning. Like always, my creativity arrived at 2a.m. and was in full swing. 
I wanted to give Ellie Kate something she could always have and maybe even pass down to one of her children-something that would be meaningful and personal to her.
So I thought, "Salvation-God sending His only son to die for us because He loves us. That is the most meaningful thing in the world and it is also personal."
Then I thought, "A picture, I can paint a picture for her! 
I can paint a picture to illustrate the sacrifice God made through His son and how that sacrifice was made because He loves us, but we are all sinners, and without His forgiveness and blood being shed, we could not spend eternity with Him."
I want her to grasp the concept of how personal it is. I want her to know that Christ blood was shed for ALL of us, even her.
I jumped out of bed at 2a.m. that morning, gathered all of my paint, set my canvas on my easel and began to paint a hand- a large oversized hand. 
I wanted it to be simple. I wanted the picture to remain child-like in its appearance, but the hand needed to be big and strong, because it would represent the hand of Christ.
It didn't take long to paint it because of its simplicity.
I completed half of the picture and headed back to bed in hopes of catching a few more hours of sleep. Besides, I couldn't finish the rest without Ellie Kate.
When she woke up, I told Ellie Kate she was going to help mommy with a picture.
I set out a bowl of red paint and dipped the palm of her hand and fingers in it. I then placed her red, paint covered hand, in the palm of the large hand I painted earlier that morning.
The picture was complete.
A picture of a hand representing Christ's hand, with her handprint in the palm-a red handprint representing the blood shed for all sinners, including her, Ellie Kate Love.