Why love us?

I was struggling to understand - how in a vast universe filled with worlds, our world was worth going to such lengths to save! Really??? These tiny, tiny people with all their selfish and hurtful ways - they were really worth sending the Son of God himself to save? He endured what he did for what reason? Yes - we know it's because he loved us (John 3:16-17) - but seriously - why did he love us???? And then that potent verse came to mind - it's simply because ... "God IS love". (1 John 4:8) It's not because of any value we have in ourselves. It's because of who HE IS.