My girls teach me so much about my relationship with my Father in Heaven. It seems like the knowledge I stored in my head about Him is attacking my heart, and the main arsenal is my family. Starting with Sue- how much more awesome can you get? She loves me unconditionally Wow, what else can I say? Then Madelyn, who one minute loves me, then mommy, then James, next her baby, her playground, her rabbit, and ice cream. Lastly, Casey, who goes crazy in her bouncy seat- pogo style when I come home. When I walk through the room she whips her head around and follows me with those deep gorgeous eyes. It's really funny when this happens while Sue is trying to feed her.
The other day was a special day as I went through another course in grace and instruction. I came home from work and Casey was on the floor and started lunging towards me causing her to fall flat on her face since she is still learning to crawl. Madelyn jumped out from behind the chair yelling, "surprise." She loves to do this when anyone enters the house. She came running towards me jabbering about the days events which I am still trying to decode. Casey reached for me drooling, wanting me to pick her up. It was pretty special to see my kids loving me and desiring to be with me, simply because I am their father. I wonder how God feels when we run with excitement into His presence? I know I was completely overwhelmed.
Madelyn then came to me with the football and said that she wanted to go to the backyard and throw the football. I was pumped! We yelled "Go Gators" and "TEBOW" all the way to the backyard. All that came to an abrupt stop and I found myself twirling and chanting with her, "SWIPER NO SWIPING, SWIPER NO SWIPING, SWIPER NO SWIPIIIIIIIIIING!!!!!" My dreams of fathering the female Tebow came to a crashing halt.
Later in the evening Madelyn and I were craving ice cream. I am pretty sure it was more Madelyn?!?!? So we loaded up to go to Baskin Robins. Madelyn was so appreciative, sweet, and loving. We walked in and Madelyn blurted out angelically to the attendant who was with another customer, "I WANT A STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM CONE!!!!" She stole the show and knew she was adored by everyone in the store. We ate and "talked" and laughed. She stopped licking her heaven on a cone, grabbed my hand and said, "thank you daddy, I love you." It was so sweet. We gobbled up both delicious cones. Then, something strange happened. As the special strawberry treat disappeared, so did my angelic daughter. She wanted more ice cream right now! She was now screaming, "I want chocolate." I was amazed. I told her we needed to leave. Suddenly, she did not "love" me anymore. I was the evil one himself. Right then, I realized, our relationship with the Lord is usually ok if He is pacifying us with life "treats." When the gifts and the pampering stops or delays, we turn away to find find something else to treat ourself with. Later that evening I was reading to Madelyn and we were about to have our evening prayers. I asked her, "Madelyn, do you love Jesus?" She replied, "I love Ice Cream..."
Here are some things my girls have reminded me of:
1. Forgive. Over and over. It's Christ-like.
2. Lunge after God, my Father. Desire Him. He will comfort me and care for me.
3. Every gift comes from the Father.
4. He provides the treats of life. I don't need to seek them out.
5. I really love the Lord. A lot. He is so amazing. I know I belong to Him and that He is crazy in love with me.
6. After the Lord, my family is the most important thing in the world. I refuse to lose sight of that again. If any of my "friends" notice it happening, I expect a slap in the head.
7. I still think Chocolate and Cookies & Cream are my favorite ice cream flavors.
