I looked at the clock to see if it was bedtime: 6:45 a.m. It wasn’t even seven yet, but I was done. Sharp, loud words fell from my mouth, and clear, convicting words pierced my heart. The Holy Spirit reminded me, He will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing. Ouch.
God delighted in me. I wanted my kids to know that God and I delighted in them, but that was not happening. I had to fix it. If God showed me His delight in me by rejoicing over me with singing, then I could do it for my girls too.
“Alexa, play Travis Tritt’s ‘It’s a Great Day to Be Alive.’”
The kitchen filled with rejoicing and wolf howls as we all delighted in each other. As the song ended, abundant life and joy filled the room. I was grateful for God’s Word and the gift of the Holy Spirit. My girls and I confessed and forgave each other for our morning meltdowns.
The rest of the day was ahead of us. The kitchen dance floor bore witness to the weight of sin and the joy of grace and mercy. Though I do not deserve it, God delights in me and chooses to gently remind me when I am thoroughly undelightful.
This was grace and mercy in action—not giving me the rebuke I deserved while giving me serenades of love and delight I did not deserve. What a beautiful gift I am privileged to pass on to my children.
On our best and worst days, God delights in and cherishes us. Delighting in others, especially when they don’t deserve it, is one of the most profound witnesses to God we can share with others.
Think of someone God is calling you to delight in. You may not want to serenade them, but a smile, hug, or encouraging word may be all they need to feel delighted in.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay and Berzin.)
Enthusiastic. Passionate. Profound. Joy Wendling is a family pastor, writer, speaker, podcaster, certified parent coach, and founder of Created to Play. She has over twenty years of experience in children, youth, and family ministry. Her idea of play is gazing at the mountains from her island home with an ice-cold Diet Coke and a good book. Joy lives in the Pacific Northwest and enjoys laughing and playing with her five daughters and husband. Get to know her better at CreatedtoPlay.com and on her podcast titled Playfully Faithful Parenting.