I am thinking about the priceless moment I shared with my
oldest grandson when he spent the night with me recently. As he usually does, he had beckoned me to a
closet in my spare bedroom where I store several grandchildren toys—some of
which they are aware, and others that are new surprises. As I always do, I slid open the closet door
to let him look around. He stood
expectantly, waiting for me to ask the question: “What do you want?” After he told me the things he wanted, I
said, “Okay, let’s get it!” He grabbed
the bags of blocks from the floor. I got
the Play Dough and crayons from a shelf that was just above his reach. I spread out a large sheet to cover the
floor, and we plopped down to play.
While he was engrossed in a building project, I decided to go get a load
of laundry started. Just as I closed the
lid to the washer, I turned to see my grandson standing in the doorway to the
laundry room. He had an unmistakable
something-has-me-upset-and-I’m-about-to-cry look on his face. I asked, “What’s the matter, honey? What do you want?” I figured there was something else in the toy
closet he couldn’t reach. With tears
welling up in his eyes, he reached out his little arms and said, “I want
you.” Before I knew it, I was on my
knees and holding him tightly in my arms.
My eyes were brimming with tears, too, as I said, “I’m here,
sweetheart. I’m right here.” This reminds me of how it is sometimes in my
relationship with God. A lot like my grandson
with his toys, I can easily become preoccupied with the countless blessings
that surround me. I am sincerely
grateful for these manifold gifts! Yet, sometimes,
when I look up and look around, I perceive that something is missing. I become keenly aware that I have lost that
closeness, that connection with God that gives a profound depth of purpose and
joy to everything else. And just as my
precious grandson came looking for me, my spirit compels me to earnestly seek
Him until the intimacy of our fellowship is renewed. Sometimes I don’t come into His presence with
a list of petitions or wishes. Instead,
I just want to let Him know that I adore and appreciate Him so much. Sometimes I simply want to say, “I want You.” And as He encompasses me in an embrace of
love and peace, He lets me know, “I Am here. I Am right here.”
