"Tenderness is what happens to you when you know you are deeply and sincerely liked by someone."
Brennan Manning
"You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds."
1 Peter 3:8
God asks that we be tender-hearted and understanding towards each other, because this is the way Christ lives with us within the very family circle of the Trinity. He not only loves us, He likes us. He likes having us around, so we can be ourselves with Him. He truly accepts us and enjoys us, and we can share our deepest thoughts, troubles and fears with Him. He is so genuine, soft-hearted and understanding, and in His tender acceptance and friendship we can treat ourselves with tenderness, can truly accept and befriend ourselves.
A Thought: God likes me so I can like myself.