A Mending Shift

a bird sings, not because if has an answer to give, but because it has a song to sing … this is my song

A Daddy’s Love

scout_faceNot too long ago I shared a tender moment with my 9-month daughter that transcended earth. I was holding her in my arms while sitting at our breakfast bar. At nine-months she is just beginning to crawl. As I held and looked at her, God’s love began to spread through me. As a father holding his child, God’s love began to make even more sense.

I held her up in the air with both arms fully outstretched and said, “You’re not crawling properly. Do it right and then I’ll love you. (I brought her down a bit closer and smiled) I love you as only a father can, but if you don’t believe I love you then I need to toss you in the dumpster (oh, makes me sick just typing that). No, silly daddy.  I love you whether you believe it or not, and nothing will change that. (I brought her closer right up to my face) But if you do believe that I love you then it makes all the difference.  Because how great is it when little daughters believe — truthfully believe — that their daddy loves them. I love you Scout! And so does your heavenly Dada.”

My wife, who was witnessing our tender exchange, said, “I wish I could of video recorded every minute of that.”

Tags: , , , , , ,


This entry was posted by on Monday, April 27th, 2009 at 6:50 am and is filed under blessing, Family, forgiveness, God, grace, Jesus, Kingdom of God, love, theology, truth. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

About The Author

Jeromy Johnson
I live in Folsom, CA, with my wife, Jennifer, and three kids. I am surrounded by and cared for deeply by some great friends. Their love for me is truly a moonlit reflection of Papa's love, and for that, I am deeply blessed and grateful.

Comments

  • http://ballymennoniteblogger.blogspot.com Robert Martin

    And to reverse it back… if the child TRULY believes that their father loves them, they will do what they can to return that love, not out of necessity to EARN the love, but out of imitation.

  • http://jeromyj.com/mendingshift/ Jeromy Johnson

    Bingo.

  • http://soundandsilence.wordpress.com nic paton

    Jeromy – I identify with this grace. Not all humans beings are in a position to feel what it is like to be a creator. But if you are blessed enough, you are literally sitting in the seat of the Divine, and you experience the awe at the existance of your offspring, as well as the nausea of the idea that you might “dump” them.

    I have 2 daughters, and feel pretty much like you: in the light of this Love, it is untenable that my Creator might want to abandon anyone.

  • http://jeromyj.com/mendingshift/ Jeromy Johnson

    Abandon, much less torture endlessly in the basement because they simply didn’t believe you loved them (’cause that’s going to do it!). Looking at my little girl and the love God has placed in my heart for her…no way could I do that. How much less our Father in heaven who is perfect?

  • Beau

    Before my daughter was born I do not think I really understood what “true love” is. To look at her and see her smile at me makes my day. To be woken up by her squeezing my nose early in the morning warms my heart. To get an unprompted kiss and an I love you warms my soul.

    Having a child truly changes who you are and how you see yourself.

«     »