Daddy Time

"A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked." Psalm 84:10

As I write this, I am blessed to have a father who's still living, at age 86.  I adore him.  He has been a real example of what it means to follow Jesus--in good times and bad--throughout his life.

One small recollection I have of my father as a little girl was how quickly he walked.  I could never keep up with him when we were going places.  Yet, it never took him very long to turn around and see me lagging behind.  He would then stop and gently consume my little hand in his, and help me keep up, or slow his pace just enough that I wouldn't lose sight of him.  I remember once at an amusement park when I was cold and couldn't keep up no matter how hard I tried.  I began to cry.  Daddy, noticing my tears, wiped them away, wrapped me in his coat, then lovingly scooped me up and placed me on his shoulders for the rest of the day.

It's a picture of the Savior's love for us, isn't it?  I can't count the number of times my Abba Father has done the very same thing for me when I couldn't keep up with Him . . . when I had one of those drop my sword and cry for just a while days.  It's on these days that He has turned around and taken me by the hand to lead me, or placed me on His shoulders to carry me.

Isaiah 40:11 says it so beautifully, "He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young."

I know this to be true.  Do you?

Yesterday I was able to spend some quality time with my daddy.  We drove to his alma mater and mine, and had a wonderful time with family and made some new friends.  We talked about life and love in the six hours we had in the car.  I will forever cherish the special time with Daddy.  Yet, this time I was the one who turned around to see my daddy lagging behind--his pace much slower than in the days when I was just a girl.  This time, I was the one who turned to reach for him, to wait for him to catch up, to slow my pace just enough that he didn't lose sight of me.  

I wonder.

Do we always count our Abba time the same?  What I mean is . . . Do we recognize the time we have to spend with God while we are on earth is also so precious, so fleeting?  We tend to think about our own personal bucket lists and selfish agendas, but do we ever consider asking God to reveal His will and His purposes for our life?

Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, "Remember your Creator. Remember him while you are still young. Think about him before your times of trouble come. The years will come when you will say, “I don’t find any pleasure in them.”

Psalm 105:4 encourages us, "Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him."

Psalm 84:2 tells us, "I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God."

May we join with the Psalmist in our own desire to spend time with our Heavenly Father--always.

Goodnight, Runners.