Terry, John, Blake, and baby Leesa went with us to Chattanooga for Thanksgiving. Susan’s family and my family welcome Terry and her kids the same way they welcome us. We had a great holiday.
Most of the time John, who is 3-1/2 years old, calls me ‘Dana,’ but every now and then he calls me ‘Dad.’ He has quite an imagination and I must be on my toes to enter his ‘games’ at any moment. Not long ago at our house, John said, “Dad, it’s time for me to go to school.” I said, “OK…Bye-bye,” without realizing that I needed to drive him. So we got in the car on our driveway, buckled our seatbelts, and took a five second drive to school. I said, “Goodbye, John. Have a great day!” As John put on his imaginary book bag, he replied, “OK, Dad. You have a great day too!” He then walked to the other side of the driveway and pretended to put down his book bag so he could begin his school work. I wasn’t exactly sure what to do next, but I think I made the right decision. After about thirty seconds (that’s about enough school work for a three year old), I honked my horn. John turned to see me and started running with a big smile on his face. I got out of the car as he yelled, “Dad!” I shouted, “Hey son!” and John threw himself into my arms and gave me a big hug. I helped put his heavy book bag (those teachers give a lot of homework) in the car and we buckled up to drive home. John told me all about his day at school and I told him that I was so proud of him. When we arrived home, I realized that was just one day of the week. We repeated the same scenario at least five times… just long enough for me to learn something very beautiful.
I’m not sure of all the reasons John enjoyed playing this game, but I know why I did. You see, I delight in John. Our family has delighted in him since he was born. As he was so happy to see his ‘dad’ at the end of the ‘school day,’ I wanted John to know I was even happier to see him. There is beauty in fellowship.
I’ve probably read this verse fifty times over the past three weeks: “The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” (Psalm 147:11) Next time I want to write about “the fear of the Lord,” for I am concerned it is often absent in our world. But do I “put my hope in his unfailing love”? In John’s game, hope was an expectation. If I didn’t honk the horn at the end of each ‘school day’ I would have failed ‘my son.’ Our hope in the Lord is also an expectation. Waiting on the Lord is not an exercise in futility! God is love and He never fails. This means that in the end I will not be disappointed. Yes, perhaps now I don’t see the end and perhaps there’s a lot I don’t understand, but that’s OK. Bystanders might even say circumstances are hopeless, but by faith the child of God can say, “I am weary, but He is not. He will give me strength. Yes, I will hope in the Lord and He will make me soar on wings like eagles. He delights in me and I trust in Him.”
“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17