My Undignified Father

So it's been a while. Don't worry. I still think you're beautiful. :) So much has happened since I've returned home after moving to Chicago for a few months. I've gotten a job at a daycare and I absolutely adore the kids I get to see every day. That's been wonderful. Kids are so healing. When I see them I just remember what innocence (or maybe ignorance) and trust looks like. I remember what it's like to really believe that my parents have everything under control and to only be concerned about my doll's little dress and what time I get to see mommy and daddy (even though I had no idea what "4:30, Julia" meant... :) (Check out my cousins, brother and I when we were that age. :) So cute, right?)

Kids remind me of the kind of relationship I had with God when I was in high school. Like little Henry. Whenever he sees his mom, he drops whatever he's doing and sprints over to hug her. Or when Austin sees his Daddy he lights up and springs up into his big, strong arms. It makes me smile every time I see the sheer pleasure of both the parent and the child when they reunite at the end of the day. It reminds me of my first Love, my heavenly Daddy, and how I used to be so thrilled when he would show his face to me in any way. One day, though, I was sitting there, watching one of those adorable parent-child reunions take place. It was then that it occurred to me that God is depicted as the prodigal Father who runs to the son and embraces him. God was the one who became absolutely undignified in the sight of everyone in order to embrace his son, and shower his love on him. Parents rarely ever run up to meet their preschooler (not that I'm judging!) but God ran, completely undignified to meet his son. Ultimately, he did this through Christ. He who knew no sin, became sin, so that we might be the righteousness of God. Now that's Love if I've ever seen it.

So we have sins under the surface of our hearts which often spill over in a heap of filth and undesirable messiness, and somehow we think we can make a deal with God. "Alright God, if I just fix this little thing in my life, or do this, then will you love and accept me." Well guess what. You squandered absolutely all the wealth he entrusted to you and he ran to you to embrace you the minute you returned to him (Zechariah 1:1-6). Marinate in that for a second. There is nothing you can do to earn his love and absolutely nothing you can do to rid your life of it. His mercy, grace, and love are so strong that they are able to keep you despite even your own self. Beloved, let that truth draw you to Him today because His love for you is so much greater than your ability to be undeserving of it. :) Love you, Beloved.

~Quote from a conversation with annabellamarie.blogspot.com <3