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C R O S S W AY B O O K SW H E A T O N , I L L I N O I S

Most of All, Jesus Loves You!Text copyright © 2004 by Noël PiperIllustrations copyright © 2004 by Debby AndersonPublished by Crossway Books

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers 1300 Crescent Street Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by USA copyright law.

Cover design: David LaPlacaCover illustration: Debby AndersonFirst printing 2004Printed in USA

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataPiper, Noël, 1947– Most of all, Jesus loves you! / Noël Piper ; [illustrated by Debby Anderson]. p. cm. Summary: Every night before bed, a mother reassures her children that they are loved by their family, their friends, and by Jesus. ISBN 13: 978-1-58134-630-5 (hc : alk. paper) ISBN 10: 1-58134-630-1 [1. Bedtime—Fiction. 2. Love—Fiction. 3. Christian life—Fiction.] I. Anderson, Debby, ill.II. Title.PZ7.P6366Mo 2004[E]—dc22 2004007760

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To Talitha RuthWhen you were small,

I would tuck you into your crib and say goodnight.

Then as I stepped away, I could hear you mulling over what you’d heard—

“Ma-ma . . . Da-da . . . mo-o-O-OH, D’SUS!”

You’ve outgrown baby talk now.

But may you never outgrow the truth.

To Caitlin and Emily Roberts

with love, D. A.

Every night Mama gives me a big hug and a kiss.

Every night she tucks my favorite quilt around me.

Every night she says, “Remember . . .

Mama loves you, and Daddy loves you.

Your brother loves you, and your sister loves you.

Your grandma loves you, and your grandpa loves you.

Your aunts and uncles love you, and your cousins love you.

And your friends love you.”

Then every night Mama says, “Good night, and remember . . .

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End SheetAdditional resources from Noël and her husband John

—including many free downloads of books, articles, and audio—

may be found at www.desiringGOD.org.

Desiring God Ministries—1-888-346-4700 (toll-free)