Don’t you love it when a child hugs you, or snuggles up to you, or takes your hand?  It just feels so good to receive love from a little one.  We all have different comfort levels when it comes to showing affection in public, but the innocence of a child erases any awkwardness.  One of our 3-year-old granddaughters doesn’t usually show affection physically to us.  We know she likes us, but it’s often from a distance.  A few days ago when she visited, she wasn’t feeling well so she hung out with me indoors while the others were outside.  It’s unusual for us to have time together, just the two of us, so it was a treat for me.  Later, when we joined the others outside she sat close beside me and snuggled just for a few minutes.  I felt like I’d been given a million bucks!

Yesterday at church, a lively youngster ran up to Husband and me and hugged us hard.  Wow!  What could make us feel more special than that?  Later in the day, while we were babysitting a friend’s young children, their three-year-old took my hand and led me to the playground equipment so I could hold his hand while he went down a fast slide.  Then he ran over to Husband and wanted to be lifted up in the air.  Our heads were getting bigger by the minute!  We must be special.

In all three cases the children genuinely just wanted to be with us.  It got me thinking about us and God.  As adults, we are constantly self-evaluating.  Did we do it right?  Did we pray enough?  Did we think about God enough?  Maybe we just need to be child-like and come close to our Father God with genuine affection. Maybe we need to quit the legalism and just soak in his Presence.  Maybe we need to turn off the self-talk and revel in his loving words to us.  Maybe we need to resist requests and just give thanks for who he is and that he loves us.  Maybe we should worry less and worship more.  It’s a beautiful thing to reach up for his hand or to sit close.  

As a good Father, I think God enjoys that kind of attention.  I think he longs for us to come close and when we do, he is pleased.  There’s nothing he needs from us, but he delights in our companionship.  He’s happy when we lean into him since he is constantly beside us.  He listens to our hearts and knows our thoughts.  Every time we incline our thoughts and desires toward him, he notices and responds.  He understands all the influences we are exposed to;  the pressures, our moods, our circumstances, our bodies, our relationships.  He knows we need him every minute and so he invites us to come close.

The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.

He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.

The Lord is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.

Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.

The wind blows, and we are gone—
as though we had never been here.

But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who fear him.  Psalm 103:8-17

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”  Matthew 19:14

Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.  Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.  So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”  Matthew 18:3