Daddy God

We rambled through airport security and eventually found ourselves sitting in the passenger section. As we looked at each other, the realization of our hopes and dreams was about to come true. Julie and I were on our way to Southern California to visit our son and his wife and our new granddaughter Isabella.

Our trip was a quick weekend filled with numerous fun activity and visits with Brittany's wonderful family. We had not seen our son and his wife for at least a couple of years since before his last Iraq deployment, so to just be together again was so invigorating for our hearts.

But the highlight of our weekend escape was little Isabella. What a precious gift to hold her, play with her, change her, feed her, bathe her, and carry her. This was our granddaughter and she was so precious and full of personality. One thing was apparent...she knew her Daddy well and felt right at home in his large Marine arms.

As I held that little child in my arms I couldn't help but ponder about how God as my "Daddy God" loves it when I am a child in His presence. As little Bella is right at home in the security of her Daddy's love, she is uninhibited about her feelings. There is no editing going on before her Daddy - when she wants something she expresses her feelings without thinking. I know...I witnessed it first hand! She is secure and knows Daddy cares and accepts her as she is, wet diaper, drool and anything else that leaks. Such openness before her Daddy is the desire of God for everyone of His children.

Brennan Manning writes that "emotions are our most direct experience of where we are in the moment." Yet when we grow older as Christians we become that "mature spiritual adult" who learns to edit before others and God. We spiritualize and hide as if we don't believe Daddy's promise to love us and hold us and take care of us. Little Bella sees her world through her father's eyes with a simplicity built upon absolute trust in her Daddy.

The Bible compares belief and the receiving of salvation as the faith of a little child. The same holds true in living the Godlife. When we recognize that God is everything and we are nothing but a little one that trusts and relies upon our Daddy, we stop becoming anxious and trying to be a controlling adult that works hard at maintaining masks of perception before others. We live by His promise of love and acceptance for who we really are, drool and all.

By the way, Isabella's name means, "God's promise." And her middle name of Elizabeth?

It also means "God's promise."

Today, I'm going to just sit in Daddy God's lap and enjoy a double dose of "God's promise."