Today I kept my 5 year old nephew, Gerald Jr. And together, we watched that movie, X-Men The Last Stand. When my dad, his Pawpaw, came home from work for lunch, all kinds of joy and excitement came over little Gerald Jr. and the movie and I was abandoned. As the hour passed and it was time for Daddy to go back to work, we walked him out to his truck as we always do. Little Gerald went and hopped up on the bumper, leaning over the tailgate to admire all the fishing poles in the bed of the truck that they use when they go fishing.
In an instant, my memories took me back many years to the time when my brother and I was his age. We would make strategic plans to sneak into his van at the proper time…hiding, without making a sound. We’d let our dad crank up, pull out, and head back to work. We had the hour he was there to spend time with him, but we wanted more, so we came up with these ideas on how to acquire the time.
I don’t think there was ever a day we could keep our secret for long. The furthest he would get sometimes would be about half way back to work before we would burst out of our hiding spots with huge smiles, laughter and excitement. And every time he would have to turn around and return us to the safety of our mother. Never did he get mad at us for doing this. He was our daddy and we were his children…his admirers. As many times as we did this, I can’t help but believe that at least a few times, he knew we were back there, hiding and giggling…but he would let us think he didn’t know we were there. He knew we loved him and we knew he loved us.
As I remember these things, I can’t help but think about our Father in heaven…the joy He has when we come to Him as children in sheer anticipation of just being with Him. Whether it’s for the first time when we come to a realization that we need Him as our Savior or if it’s the 40th time when we may need Him as our Healer or the 1000th time when we realize He’s everything we need in good times and in hard times…just to be close to Him wherever we are, whatever we’re doing (Psalms 103). And no matter what, His promise to me and to all who will put their trust in Him remains the same, that He will never leave us or forsake us.
My dad had to go back to work that day and the many other days we did this so that we could be taken care of as his children and as his family…and I thank God that he did. But our Father is always there. He’s never too busy or has to be somewhere at certain times. He’s never too occupied. He’s never more concerned with someone or something else. He knows how many stars there are in the vastness of the skies. He knows how many hairs are on each and every person’s head…including yours! He knows every single detail about you and me. He knows.
I don’t know about you, but I want to find myself giggling and hiding in His presence. I know He’ll already know that I’m there, but I also know that He won’t have to turn me away and put me in someone else’s care so that He can go take care of other matters and needs in the world.
I belong to my Lover, and His desire is for me! His desire is for you!!
