While we were at the beach this past week, I believe I had my most favorite moment as a father thus far. The first day we were on the beach we introduced Andrew to sand. He thought it was interesting but he got uncomfortable pretty quickly. Even with his toys scattered about... He became very figity. When we approached the ocean we sat right at the shore line where the sand was hard and the water just barely reached us. He was ok with that for a few minutes, but when put him on my shoulders and walked into the ocean... He was thrilled!! When he sits on my shoulders he grabs onto my hair and holds on tight. At first he was a little intimidated at the new environment but just seconds later... He was all teeth. Smiling as big as he could and giggling at the top of his lungs. He was even letting go and flailing his arms in the air. What he had done is find safety. He trusted me. He didn't feel safe being on the sand. It was an unfamiliar environment with nothing to hold on to. Even the toys he plays with all the time. But as soon as he was on my shoulders which is a place he knows and trusts... He celebrated in his surroundings. To him it did not matter what was around him. Big waves were crashing but he knew he was safe on daddys shoulders. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was holding onto him and I was not going to let go. It is amazing what I learned from my one year old son that day. As crazy and hectic as my life can be sometimes, with my surroundings changing and situations around me that make me feel uncomfortable... If only I would recognize more that I am on my Daddys shoulders. I need to trust more that He has and will never let me go. Andrew knew that I would never let him go. I held onto him tighter than he was holding onto me. The same is true with Jesus. He has always had a tighter grip on us than we could ever imagine we could have on him. I love the feeling that I get knowing that the safest place that Andrew knows is on his daddy's shoulders... I just have to know that God feels the same way when His children recognize the safety they find in Him.
As adults we tend to make things more complicated with our age. Why is that? With as much confusion that this world offers... Our faith in Christ should be the one thing that we seek with the heart of a child.
As adults we tend to make things more complicated with our age. Why is that? With as much confusion that this world offers... Our faith in Christ should be the one thing that we seek with the heart of a child.
