Upon hearing my voice, a smile broke across his face.
My grandson ran to me with outstretched arms and reached up for Papaw to get him. After giving him a big squeeze, I talked to him. Within a few minutes, he leaned over toward me with his little mouth open, trying to give me a kiss the best way a one-year-old knows how.
I know that scene plays out countless times in most people's lives. But when I experienced it, I thought about how our heavenly Father feels about us. I was anxious about just getting to see Sam. I was even more thrilled when he came to me as he did.
I wonder how happy and excited the Lord gets when we come to Him with our arms up to be lifted into His arms. I imagine one of His greatest joys is for His children to want His embrace. When we greet Him with a kiss, a smile, and a hug, I am sure it melts His heart as Sam’s did mine.
Sam wasn't expecting to receive anything, nor did he want anything. He reached up for me to receive him. As a parent, there's no greater joy than for our child or grandchild to run to us, wanting nothing but our love and embrace. At that moment, our world stops, and that child has our undivided attention and love.
I'm thankful we are made in our Father's image and likeness. He anxiously waits for His children to run to Him to be picked up, embraced, and loved on. I wonder how blessed we would be if we went to Him, not for things or even answers, but just to experience joy and love.
Are you reaching up to the heavenly Father?
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Andy is a published multi-award-winning author with devotions appearing on the Christian Devotions website as well as the CBN website. He is a contributing author in the Starr Ayers/Stephanie Pavlantos book Room at the Table. Currently, he is working on his first novel and is assembling a book of inspirational Scripture-based short stories along with moral, personal, family, and comical stories. Andy is the founder and director of H.O.P.E. Ministries in Candler, NC. While operating primarily as a food ministry, they also provide backpacks, Easter baskets, and Christmas shoebox gifts to crisis pregnancy centers, domestic violence shelters, schools, government agencies, and other ministries. They also provide disaster relief and aid for unwed mothers and their children.