Oh! the joy it brought my mother's heart!
Each person has unique ways, ...and places, ...and times, in which they meet with God. For my husband, his best time is in the evenings or on a walk in the fields. For me it is early in the morning in my quiet spot. ...
Each morning, I rise early and make my way down to my small, quiet spot... a place where I long to meet with God each day. I have invited each of my children to come to me when they wake-up for a quick kiss, a tight snuggle and a moment together. For years and years now, they have both come down to sit on my lap for a minute or two. This has been a deep joy to me each day!
For months now, my daughter has stopped coming regularly to sit with me.
She is getting older. ...sleeping later. And, often, when I have said to her, "Good morning, sweet girl, I didn't see you this morning?" She has replied to my comment, "Oh yeah!, I forgot". She tells me that she woke with other plans... a shower, a book she wanted to finish reading, email to check...
She knows that this is okay. It really is. She isn't reprimanded or punished, of course. It isn't a command, or a "must" in our home. It is only an invitation. I invite her to come. I will be there each day and she can come and sit with me for a moment.
And, certainly, it doesn't affect my love for her. It really doesn't. I do miss her morning messy hair, and my heart still stirs when I hear her getting out of her top bunk. I long for her to come. But, my love for her isn't altered in any way if she doesn't come. Without her coming, though, we miss the snuggle... I miss the snuggle.
A few months ago, when I noticed that she wasn't coming down anymore, I began to realize that I needed to go to her. I needed to go out of my way during the day to get that hug... that physical touch she was missing in the morning. So, I have made it a goal to purposefully hug her at another time in our day.
But this morning!! ...
This morning she came! Hair messed, warmed in her comfy pjs, wearing that 'just-woke-up' look in her eyes... she came. And she curled up (not easy anymore... she is getting older!) on my lap for just a moment.
Oh! What joy this brought to my mother's heart.
I will wait for her every morning with anticipation!
Is this what my Father might feel when I come down to that quiet spot and sit, hair messed, eyes blurred, coffee in hand...
If I don't come, He still loves me. His love is never altered by my not coming... In fact, He still will reach out, run after me and hug me throughout my day!
But, when I do come... what must He feel? Does it bring Him joy when I enter into His love and rest? Does it bring my Father in Heaven deep joy when I accept His invitation to sit for a while and snuggle in?
Do the words "She came today!" well up within Him as they did inside me this morning?