In order to wrestle though some personal issues related to my family of origin, I'm re-reading Scotty Smith's book, Objects of His Affection. It is a remarkable, biographical (and vulnerable) journey of his moving from knowing intellectually about the love of God to experiencing personally the God of love. I commend it to you with the strongest recommendation. Here is a slice that I found helpful last night:

Do you remember the voice that sounded from heaven the day Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist? This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). God the Father has always loved and delighted in God the Son—and vice versa. Jesus has never been anything other than the Father's pleasure and deepest delight... The same love, delight, and pleasure that God the Father has for God the Son, he has for all of those who are in Christ—no exceptions.  (page 37)

No exceptions? That means, in seven words, that I am an object of His affection. By sheer grace and mercy and born of perfect, eternal love, God has set his love upon me. Is that possible? Can it be that God would not merely tolerate me, but treasure me?  Can I really be loved, accepted and delighted in by the King of Heaven?  The gospel says, "Yes," and I am undone.