The more time I spend with children (which is a lot), the more I learn. Lately I've been reminded of the Father heart God has for us. How blessed am I to call the King of the universe my Daddy?!
I am amazed and grateful at the beautiful Father-like heart He has. I love the thought of Him being my Dad, which makes me His child.
The time I have been spending with kids lately has revealed to me the faith and simplicity of children. Kids require much patience- this I knew. They are adventurous and curious, excited and happy. They believe pretty much anything you say, they get scared, and they can be moody. They are truly unpredictable. They grow. They make mistakes, they get punished. Children are awesome.
I was struck one day while babysitting by the actions of one of the kids I am with every day. She's five. Her dad called to check on things and to talk to me. As soon as I answered and began talking, she knew quite well who I was talking with. She began to ask "Mairi, can i talk to him? Please. I wanna talk to daddy." And she began to cry because I was not answering her right away. When I was done talking, I handed the phone over and joy immediately replaced the tears streaming down her little face- just at the sound of her Father's voice. He was still far from her, still busy, but still her dad. His voice was a comfort to her. It is familiar and close.
Later that day I was reflecting on this. I was struck by the beauty in that little exchange. She was desperate and longing to hear her father's voice. She was waiting to have just a moment to speak with him after all day of being away. How beautiful is that?
God calls me child. Because of the perfect blood of Jesus Christ, I have received a spirit of adoption. Romans 8 says that through Jesus I can cry out to God, "Abba, Father." I know I have cried out, but have I been so desperate to hear His reply in my cries? I am His CHILD. Do I even grasp that concept? Have I been that hungry, that desperate to hear my Daddy's voice? Am I waiting in anticipation for the moment He speaks to me?
I have also been reminded lately of how helpless babies are. They need to be fed, changed, and watched pretty much every second that they are awake. They eat things that aren't to be eaten, they fall and need to be helped, they laugh and cry for no reason. They're so simple. They take things that are intended for their good and end up hurting themselves. They make the same mistakes repeatedly and don't learn. I am grateful for the fact that babies grow. They mature and gain understanding.
Am I daily being deliberate to learn from my mistakes? Am I making sure I am learning and growing?
I remember when I was little each day when my mom would come home from work, my brother and I would hear the garage door opening where ever we were in the house, stop whatever we were doing and race to get to her before the other and hug her. We wanted to be first in her arms. That moment was special and anticipated.
Another thing that I love about God being my Father is the fact that He's God. He is the perfect Father. Despite the mistakes I make, the "time outs" I deserve, the times I ignore his protective instructions- He loves me unconditionally and infinitely. Woah. I will always be first in His arms because He is omnipresent. He is constant, He is faithful, He is mine. No earthly Father can be with me at all times, live forever, or breathe life into the deadest of places. I am Yours and You are mine.
God loves ME.
God LOVES me.
GOD loves me.
These three things never fail to blow my mind.
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Jeuss- thank You for speaking me into existence. Thanks for being there every second since.
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."
-Psalm 139:13-16
