I am a grandfather. We have three beautiful grandchildren with a fourth on the way. Friday night we got to spend time with our daughter-in-law and her three children. Watching the two older boys play and making baby talk with our 10-month old granddaughter brought joy to my heart.
The next day we traveled to our daughter and son-in-law’s home to participate in a “gender reveal” party. Since many of their friends have children, the party had a strong child’s birthday party feel. Running, laughing, and generally just enjoying life in the crisp fall afternoon was the order of the day for the children.
The actual gender reveal part was a big hit too. Our daughter-in-law was the only one who knew the baby’s gender. The night prior to the party she filled a large pumpkin with powder and then sealed it up. At the party the thirty or so guests all selected a gender they thought the baby was. Our son-in-law was adamant the baby was a boy. And so did about two-thirds of the guests. At the appointed time the pumpkin was heaved high in the air and then descended to the ground in a mighty pink clouded crash. IT’S A GIRL!
I sense the Lord emphasizing a point for me through this fun life event, especially as I watched and played with the children. The children were carefree. They played with exuberance. They were not mean or manipulative. They cared for each other and enjoyed each other’s company. And they flitted back to a parent or other relative every now and then, but soon they were back cavorting with the other children.
Our Father wants similar for us. Our relationship with Him can be, is meant to be, one where we live in ever increasing confidence of His love and tender care. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” He is intimately aware and engaged in our lives. He is big enough to help us shoulder the tough times. He is also the Father of the Bride-Groom in the wedding feast we will one day celebrate together. In the time until we all join in this banquet, He is our loving Father who watches over us, helps us and enjoys it as we draw closer to Him.
The Lord wants us to live fully in each day trusting Him. There is much about each day we cannot control. Building elaborate plans and striving to control every outcome is a fool’s game. In fact it can be more than that, it can easily become sin. When having our way becomes paramount, we slip off the path of faith. We take on a role we are not meant to play.
On the other hand, the more we lean into trusting the Father and obediently following His blueprint for life found in the bible, the less we are inclined to try and make things turn out our way. The more consistently we are able to listen to the Holy Spirit speak truth and guide us, the greater our joy and confidence become. Proverbs 3:5 & 6 can be relied upon. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
From time to time my mind thinks forward to when we have graduated to larger life on the other side of the grave. It looks a lot like a sun-splashed afternoon awaiting the revealing of our next grandchild’s gender. There’s lots of laughter. There is joyful expectation. There is activity galore, colors rich and vivid, and heartfelt conversations all around. And in our midst is the loving Father – adored by His multiplied children all around.
We are those children.
And it makes me smile.
Be blessed today my friend. And be a blessing.
areliablefaith 