I always look forward to coming home after work. Nathan and Morgan and I have this little game we play. As soon as they hear the garage door start opening, it's not too long before the door going from the house into the garage will fly open and out they come! They both try to be the first to open the door, give me a hug or a kiss and say "I LOVE YOU!" Sometimes they both say it in unison! I mess with them sometimes, locking the door and not letting them in the car...... which used to work until I gave Nathan his own key to the car! I absolutely love the fact that they look forward to their Dad coming home. Yesterday, Nathan even called me while I was driving home and asked, "Dad, when are you going to be home?" Every time I'm running a bit late, one of them will always call. There's nothing like seeing the smile on the face of my children when they see me! They don't fear me bringing up their past…and their past HAS been nasty if you think about all of the dirty diapers and snot and vomit that they've produced over the years! They're not fearful that I'm going to yell at them and begin asking them to do things that would eventually hurt them and make them hate life. They're not worried that I'm going to hurt them or harm them in any way. They trust their Dad. They don't think that I'm going to take something away from them, or that I'm actually "out to get them" and make them as miserable as possible. (Now, there ARE times when I will chase them down and tickle them within an inch of their lives, but they absolutely LOVE that! In fact, they'll come into a room and start messing with me, trying to provoke me into "getting them"). That's a whole different game altogether!
Still, there's no fear or worry on their part when their Dad comes home. They just run out the door, look at me and smile because they know that I'm going to open my car door and give them a big hug and tell them I love them!
There's anticipation. There's joy. There's trust.
They look at me like any child should look at their father…and how I should look to God!
God's not out to get me…OR I’d have already been gotten!
God's not out to take something from me. What could I possibly have that He wants? (By the way.....it’s already His!)
God's not out to hurt me, only to bless me and teach me.
God’s been so good to me! Seriously! He owes me NOTHING, but He's given me so much!
God’s not out to remind me of my past. He’s already paid for that and made me brand new.
God wants to see me SMILE at Him, to see true JOY in my life, and complete TRUST that He IS who Scripture SAYS He is…my PERFECT heavenly father.
Listen to what The Message Bible says in 1 John 3:1-2:
"What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it! We're called children of God! That's who we really are. But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he's up to.
But friends, that's exactly who we are: children of God. And that's only the beginning!"
Selah!
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