My girls continue to be the best educator in my life. One day last week Madelyn and I were playing in her room. We were working in the flower garden to be more specific. I had a drink in the room with me that I put on her dresser. I failed to realize that I put it right next to the "seeds" we would eventually need. As Madelyn went charging after the seeds she knocked the glass over and my drink spilled all over the dresser, her, and the carpet. She panicked, jumped back, and full of fear she said, "Daddy, I am so sorry. I'm so sorry Daddy, please don't be mad." She got me! As soon as we locked eyes and I heard her sweet, pitiful, and sorry words, I was moved with compassion as I realized the angst she was living, and I said, "Sweetheart, messes can easily be cleaned up. It was just an accident. I love you, Daddy isn't mad at you. Let me clean this up and we can keep playing." Immediately my heart was pricked and I started crying as I imagined how our Heavenly Father feels when we realize what we have done and we cry out to Him.
It really is something to think how we can run so far from God or destroy our lives, or other people's lives for that matter, and with one cry to our amazing God, He cleans up that mess instantly. While there are consequences and effects of our decisions and sin, God will and does cleanse and restore. I promise. I am living proof. This morning on the tenth floor of a hotel in midtown Atlanta while Sue was on the computer, the girls watching Mickey Mouse clubhouse, and me reading my Bible, Sue's sweet voice stopped my world as she said, "Mark, I love you." We had that look and the conversation without words and we knew that although we have been through so much that we are in the Master's hands. Then Casey dumped her little crackers on the floor and crushed them in the carpet. Time to clean up another mess. Good thing the Lord is always there to keep cleaning up ours...
