Recently, my gentle-hearted 3-year-old grandson came to spend a few hours with me. He walked in the door with a big smile and after quietly saying, “Hi Mimi!” he went straight to the play room. I know he likes it here. He feels safe, and oh how I treasure that delightful little boy spending time with me.
That particular morning, three more of my beautiful grandkids were also over to play. I absolutely love that! It fills my heart with overflowing joy to love and be loved on by my grandkids. Yet, with the age range of 3-5, there‘s a lot of activity needing adult direction and assistance, of course, happening all at once.
Finding toy parts, snacks, sippy cups, crafts at the counter island, bathroom needs, spills, struggles, running and laughing…it’s all wonderful, yet also extremely busy.
On that specific day, as I was moving in fast speed from one situation to the next, out of the blue, I heard a soft voice calling for me from the entryway floor. Ever so gently, I heard: “Mimi…Mimi…?”
When I finally turned toward that tender voice that was waiting for me to just STOP and look into his face, I heard my grandson say, “Mimi…I… just…love…you.”
Time stopped. That was a pure, holy moment for me. A God moment.
Since then, it has struck me how often I tend to race through life. By choice, yes, because I tend to have so many spinning plates in the air as I’m trying to be loving to my family, checking off lists, serving in ministries, contributing to society, and taking care of myself. But how many times a day does God move in a moment like the one with my grandson, calling out my name and just waiting…waiting for me to STOP and look at Him?
He wants us to hear how he loves us. Unconditionally. Exactly as we are. And he’s so creative that he does it in a million different ways.
Clearly we hear and see his love through many forms of nature — the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1) — but we can also experience it in the simple moments of life like snuggling under a cozy blanket while reading to our kids, or giggling while making snow angels and being a child at heart ourselves. Can’t you just hear Him calling out your name to STOP for just a moment so that you can hear him say I LOVE YOU!
He loves you exactly where you’re at. Not because you’re perfect, but just because you’re his. He knit you together (Psalm 139:13), created you in his image (Genesis 1:27), and he loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).
Journal/Reflection Questions:
1. Think about your waking hours yesterday — were there moments when Jesus was trying to get your attention to tell you how he loves you? Did you catch it at the time? What did those moments look like?
2. You are God’s kid and he wants you to hear his voice. What steps could you take so that you don’t work right through those holy moments?
Listening Prayer: Ask Jesus: Am I making myself so busy each day that I’m missing you? Please help me, Lord, to hear you and see you in my daily life.
Kathy Morgan has been married to her best friend, Bob, for over 37 years. Together they have four grown, married, children and seven grandchildren. Kathy is a Hospital Chaplain and loves mentoring women, hosting ministry events in her home, prayer, cooking, reading historical Biblical fiction, and eating all forms of potatoes.