She slipped on her pink princess dress and clasped her royal scepter with excitement and grace. Then turned and walked slowly and carefully as to not disturb the beauty she felt in that moment. With her shy and nervous grin she passed in front of her father to make sure he saw her, seeking his approval and praise of just how beautiful she is. With a simple smile and sweet comment he covered her with love and she felt safe to laugh and dance around in a dress that was a bit too big, hair that was tangled, but a smile that lit up the room. He saw her beautiful heart and she felt it! I felt it! And I wanted to rush to my niece, sweep her up in my arms, and dance with her.
How she was filled with love and how we all long for a moment such as this, where we too dance with the love that fills us and pours out. To be seen – our hearts longing to be seen, to be swept up in loving arms.
And yet, I constantly build walls around me with pride, envy, expectations, greed, and the list goes on. And I try to hide. My heart is yearning for that kind of freeing love, but not always willing to be vulnerable. I am scared of the pain, but missing out on the joy.
Oh how my heart beats for the love of my Father…to be enveloped by Him…to be vulnerable to Him. So I continue to fight these walls. I continue to feel the mix of pain and joy in it all, to love with all that is in me as God fills me. I continue to invite God in, clearing out the mess of my heart, and loving me still.
