My son was just past a year old. He was diagnosed with pneumonia. When the doctor gave me the news he said an antibiotic would be needed immediately and if it did not improve rapidly he may need a trip to hospital. The medicine was essential. Worry struck me. What if he would not take the medicine? He was not very good at taking medicine.
The doctor assured me that the pharmacy would make the medicine work for my son with an addition of flavor. When arriving at the pharmacy, I was given a list of flavors which my son would love. After choosing bubble gum (after all, who doesn't love a good bubble gum flavor, right?) I received the medicine and went home to get underway with administering it.
Fifteen minutes later there was a pink mess on the carpet, my son was screaming, and I was crying. It was fifteen minutes of fighting and torture. For both of us. I tried everything. I tried giving it to him straight. No go. (So much for flavored medicine!) I tried mixing it with a bottle. Nice try. I tried holding his nose and getting the tube past his tongue so I could force him to swallow. Nope. (The kid is nearly as stubborn as I am.)
So a third of the medicine bottle is empty. The carpet is pink. My son is screaming. I'm crying and worried he'll end up in the hospital.
And then it happened.
My son ran to me.
In the midst of his tears, tears which I caused, he ran to me.
With arms open wide he ran to daddy. He wrapped his arms around my legs and with tears in my eyes I looked down and wondered, "How can this be?" I'm the one who allowed (even caused) his current anguish and he came running to me. "Daddy!"
Then I realized: This is how God wants me to run to him. When things aren't going well. When I'm in pain. When God has allowed something to to occur which brings me struggle, I can and should run to him. "Daddy!" "Abba!" Be with me. Comfort me. You are always good. You are always faithful. You are always true. You are always Daddy.
The reason my son ran to me, even in the midst of the struggle he had with me, was because he KNEW me. He knew I LOVED him. He knew I CARED for him. He knew I would HOLD him.
Do you know these things about God? Do you run to him even when you struggle with him? Job declared "I came naked from my mother's womb and I will be stripped of everything when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord." Even in the midst of the struggle, Job ran to God and yelled, "Daddy!" (Read his story in Job 1.)
You can always run to God. Good times. Bad times. That's honoring and glorifying to Him. That's worship.
worship Him 24/7...
Scott
PS - My son did not end up the hospital. My stubbornness eventually won out. He still runs to me with open arms and yells "daddy". It still can bring tears to my eyes.
The doctor assured me that the pharmacy would make the medicine work for my son with an addition of flavor. When arriving at the pharmacy, I was given a list of flavors which my son would love. After choosing bubble gum (after all, who doesn't love a good bubble gum flavor, right?) I received the medicine and went home to get underway with administering it.
Fifteen minutes later there was a pink mess on the carpet, my son was screaming, and I was crying. It was fifteen minutes of fighting and torture. For both of us. I tried everything. I tried giving it to him straight. No go. (So much for flavored medicine!) I tried mixing it with a bottle. Nice try. I tried holding his nose and getting the tube past his tongue so I could force him to swallow. Nope. (The kid is nearly as stubborn as I am.)
So a third of the medicine bottle is empty. The carpet is pink. My son is screaming. I'm crying and worried he'll end up in the hospital.
And then it happened.
My son ran to me.
In the midst of his tears, tears which I caused, he ran to me.
With arms open wide he ran to daddy. He wrapped his arms around my legs and with tears in my eyes I looked down and wondered, "How can this be?" I'm the one who allowed (even caused) his current anguish and he came running to me. "Daddy!"
Then I realized: This is how God wants me to run to him. When things aren't going well. When I'm in pain. When God has allowed something to to occur which brings me struggle, I can and should run to him. "Daddy!" "Abba!" Be with me. Comfort me. You are always good. You are always faithful. You are always true. You are always Daddy.
The reason my son ran to me, even in the midst of the struggle he had with me, was because he KNEW me. He knew I LOVED him. He knew I CARED for him. He knew I would HOLD him.
Do you know these things about God? Do you run to him even when you struggle with him? Job declared "I came naked from my mother's womb and I will be stripped of everything when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord." Even in the midst of the struggle, Job ran to God and yelled, "Daddy!" (Read his story in Job 1.)
You can always run to God. Good times. Bad times. That's honoring and glorifying to Him. That's worship.
worship Him 24/7...
Scott
PS - My son did not end up the hospital. My stubbornness eventually won out. He still runs to me with open arms and yells "daddy". It still can bring tears to my eyes.