Dear Father~
Thank You for the memory I treasure of my daddy and me walking to church one Sunday morning when I was about ten years old. I was tall for my age, but Daddy was 6’2” and used to walking at a pretty good clip. All of a sudden he chuckled as he realized I had to take three steps to every one he took! From then on, his steps were measured to match mine more closely. He was a good daddy in so many ways and those little things made me feel so special.
You know how much I wish everyone could better understand and truly know You as “Daddy-God”. You know I’m not talking about a Santa Claus type of relationship. What kind of daddy would a man be who came only one night a year bringing a bag full of beautiful earthly gifts? No, I mean the kind of daddy who lays down his life for his child by getting up early in the extreme heat or extreme cold and goes to work every day thinking first of the needs of those he loves, last of his own needs. Your Son said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 NASB) I am talking about the everyday family relationship between a father and his child.
We sing about Your walking and talking with us, about Your telling us we are Your own; most of the time I suppose we are thinking of ourselves as grown-up friends while we sing those words, but if we imagine You as our Daddy or Dad and ourselves as Your adopted children while singing those same words, we can hold the family form of fellowship in our hearts.
As You well know, I see You and me that way often. Because You never age, it doesn’t matter that I do! You never change so I can always depend on Your being whatever I need You to be. Your love is faithful and I can depend on it. I love being with You!
Thank You for sharing the things of the world with me. When others are nowhere near, You and I see some things that I can only tell others about, like that hummingbird in those lovely pink vine flowers up by the mailbox a few days ago. Even though I had my camera in my hand, You saw how fast he flitted away before I was even within a photo shoot distance. Yet, I had seen him, so I felt blessed. What fascinated me was the fact that the following day at almost exactly the same time, the event was repeated! Thank You, Father.
Then last Sunday, remember when I had parked the van facing into that sage shrubbery? I came out after lunch to get into the van and that mockingbird appeared straight up like he had been shot out of a popgun! You and I were the only ones who saw the expression on his face…and yes, he did have an expression, didn’t he? He was so surprised I wonder that he didn’t mold his beak in a big round “O”! There he sat, still as could be, half of his body showing out of that shrubbery, until I said, “I surprised you didn’t I? Well, you surprised me, too! I promise I won’t hurt you.” That’s when we saw him fly into that tree by the other side of the van. Oh, how I wanted to take time to get out my camera to take some pictures because I just KNEW he’d let me do so. But Lord, I had other responsibilities, didn’t I? I had to get to the front of the restaurant to pick up the guys instead of leaving them standing in the heat. The words to the song, “I am mine no more,” run through my mind at times like that. Thank You for gentle reminders. Thank You, too, for the story I was able to share with the guys once I picked them up, but especially for Your being there with me all along to see and share the whole episode.
And then Father, the next evening You set the most beautiful sunset in the sky! You know how much I enjoy seeing all those colors and marvel at the way the sky changes in such a short time. Thank You that I was able to hurriedly grab my camera and fast walk to an area where I could get some pictures of the expanse of sky to show Your beauty in the best possible ways. Thank You for walking with me as my Daddy-Father, for being my Lord and my God. I do love You!
M. Sue 9-1-2011
