Devotional/Commentary
A Little Nudge
Oh…park days!
I watched a daddy be his son’s safety net today. His little curly-haired not-quite-one-year-old never knew, but he had a shadow taking care of him that day at the park.
Little One was in his own world; climbing and running here and there. It was amazing to see how much confidence such a little thing could have. He never doubted that strong hand was near by and innocently accepted this helping “hand” now and then as if taking it for granted. Every now and then the little boy would try to bite off more than he could chew: A step was just a little too high, but there daddy would give him a little nudge, or even a push and the boy would effortlessly pull himself up the rest of the way. Little One would run in and out of the maze of play things never seeming to worry that he might be out of his caretakers reach….and Daddy followed.
Daddy smiled the whole time: He never seemed to mind the back and forth monotony. Little One would make the same mistakes, take the same path over and over, but Daddy never strayed away, never got bored. Daddy almost seemed mesmerized by Little One’s innocence and joy.
How wonderful it was to witness! A strong Father, with such love, that he carefully shadowed Little One until time for home. Then, carelessly Little One laid his head on Daddy’s shoulder and rested in the safety he knew so well.
One day Little One will try bigger steps on his own, and Daddy will have to let him fall now and then. The nudges might be softer and the falls Little One makes a little harder, but Daddy is always still there.
Isn’t it the same for all of us? As we have grown, we try to bite off more than we can chew too. But our Father God is waiting for us to look over our shoulders and ask for a little nudge in the right direction…and He waits patiently, smiling and loving us until we do.
|
|
