Run to the Father. His Arms Are Open Wide.

When I was looking for an online photo to capture a father's arms open wide to his child for this post today, I ran across this one. You see the unspeakable joy of a young son running to his father after the dad was held captive in Syria for six months by a rogue al-Qaeda group. I knew this would be the message I wanted to convey in my post today.

This time of the year -- more than ever -- we're reminded of the joys of being a child. Blissfully running about, filled with happy freedom from care and concern. I love it when I hear them scream "DADDY!" as they're about to be caught by a sibling or friend. They know who to turn to for security and protection. Matthew 18:4 says "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of God". When Jesus urged us to become like little children, He was telling us that He wants us to regain some of our childhood innocence and awe. When we were young, it was easy to believe in a good God Who watches over us and Who has a band of angels to protect us. I love how my two youngest grandsons make sure we pray for the angels to encamp around them while they sleep before they go to bed at night. They MUST have that prayer, and we're delighted that when we pray, they are comforted, followed by sweet sleep.

As we grow older, some of those comforting images fade and we gradually lose that sense of security. Of course, as adults, we face many variables in life -- responsibilities, pressures, transitions, the ups and downs of life, and then we fail to remember the freedom and abandonment of worries as we did when we were children.

We can change that. We can revive the innocence and joy we knew as children that is not just dependent on our own efforts. Maturity isn't being independent from God -- it's a deeper dependence more than EVER! We're DEPENDENT on His mercy and grace. God IS our DADDY, and from our first breath -- to our last breath -- He has a watchful eye over us and His plans for us include His very best. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

May we take on this beautiful season of Christmas with wide-eyed awe and wonder -- like we had as children. And, when "stuff" is chasing us down and we're about to be CAUGHT UP in the frenzy and stress that often comes with this season, let's cry out "DADDY!" and run into God's open arms.

One of my favorite worship songs is all about running into the arms of our Heavenly Father. May you run into His arms today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYQ5yXCc_CA