Years ago, I invited him to come find me when he wakes up. I told him I would wait for him for our quick morning snuggle. This morning when the house was still quiet.... his sister still sleeping, daddy still sleeping... I heard the sound of his feet on our creaking stairs. He was coming down to see me.
Each morning, something inside me dances at the thought of seeing him. My sweet, freckle-faced, nine year old boy. How long will he come and sit on my lap? How many more years of this will I have? I want to enjoy each day!
I tell him, when he comes in, "I am happy to see you!" and he says it back to me as he climbs up on my lap, "I am happy to see you, Mom." This our morning ritual.
Does Father God feel this way about me when I slip out of bed and come down to "see him" in the early morning hours? ...that is another blog, I guess.
This morning, snuggled into my chest, his face turned up and close to mine, he asked,"What does it mean to love God?"
Prior to his arrival, I had just been contemplating God's love for me... but, this turned the tables on my thoughts...
What does it mean to love God, Mom?
"What does it mean for you to love me?" I asked him. He didn't answer with words but with a tighter squeeze and a deeper cuddle.
"Yes, exactly!", I said. "Loving God is a sweet, deep, tender feeling. Loving God is a warm emotion. It is when your heart is toward Him." He smiled. He feels that way about me!
"...but, son, loving God is more than that. Those feelings, yes!, and so much more!"
What else does it mean for you, son, to love me?... It means you are vacuuming for me because I can't vacuum during my recovery from surgery, right? And, you are carrying things for me. You are serving me and thinking about me and what I might want or need, right? This is your love for me, sweet boy!
"Oh yeah!"... his sweet, raptly-listening eyes say... and he nuzzles deeper in!
This is the same with our love for God. We think of Him first and love Him when we put His heart and desires before ourselves. We love God when we serve Him and look for what He wants!
What else? ... your love for me, son, means you want to spend time with me. You want to be in the same room as me, right? You want to come see me in the mornings. You want to read next to me, play games with me, and make garlic bread with me. This is the same with our love for God. When we love God, we want to be with him, to talk with Him, to play with Him, to read aware of Him in the room with us, and to do all our tasks with Him.
What else? ...your love for me, son, means you obey my words and you trust me. The same is true in our relationship with God! You love God by trusting Him and obeying Him.
What does it mean to love God? This and so much more!!
Simple answers for a sweet nine year old... I know. But, good thoughts for my heart today! Thank you, son.
As I got up from my quiet time this morning, Father God was whispering into my heart, What does it mean for you, Stephanie, to love me today? Do that today! Be that today!