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Em (out of nowhere): Mom, do angels make mistakes?
Me: Yes, I suppose they can.
Me: The devil was an angel and his mistake was wanting to be worshipped. He was prideful.
Em: Mom, is the reason the devil tries so hard to hurt people because he’s so mad that he got kicked out of God’s presence?
Me: That’s exactly right, Em.
Me: How would you feel if you got kicked out of Heaven?
Em: I’d be pretty sad! I’d be really lonely.
Me: That’s how the devil feels. He’s lonely and miserable so he tries to put that on God’s people on earth to make us feel that way, too. He lies to us to make us think God doesn’t care when bad things happen on earth. He’s so selfish and a big, fat liar!
Em: Yeah, but we have Jesus so that makes the devil mad.
Me: He’s jealous because we can talk to God everyday and thank Him and praise Him, cry to Him, and enjoy the hope of Heaven.
Me: There’s a saying, Em, “Misery loves company”. The devil is the most miserable creature in existence because he was once with God but has been cast from His presence. People don’t have to be miserable because God sent His Son to renew that relationship. We may have times of sadness here on earth, like missing your brother, but we have hope, so that makes us special.

Jesus says it best…
1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
3″You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4″You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5″You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
6″You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
7″You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.
8″You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9″You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
10″You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
11-12″Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
From The Message