He loved being a grandpa and he was so looking forward to this.
His daughter had called him and asked if he could look after his 2 year old granddaughter for a few hours. Absolutely! He loved any opportunity he could get to spend time with her. Her perspective on the world was so refreshing.
A 2 year old see things very differently than a 50-something year old. Everything is new. Everything is exciting. Everything is a wonder. Everything is an adventure. And everything seems possible.
Even as he drove to his daughter’s home he was anticipating the kind of time they would have…
Maybe they would go for a walk in the woods. Perhaps they would go to the beach. Or, they could go to a nearby park and play on the swings and the slide. They would definitely hold hands and stroll. At some point in time she would want him to put her on his shoulders and carry her.
They would have to eat something as well. Definitely fries. What’s better than sharing some ketchup soaked French fries with your granddaughter? Not much. And, they would finish things off with ice cream. He would help her try to get through her cone without dripping too much on herself. Then he would carefully wipe her face clean of all the smears and remnants of an excellent feast.
As they drove home he would steal glimpses, in the rear view mirror, of her slowly falling asleep in her car seat after an excellent day with grandpa. He was so excited, and he hadn’t even picked her up yet.
When he arrived at his daughter’s house he could tell his granddaughter was as excited as he was. After he had knocked on the door he could hear squeals of excitement from inside the house. His daughter opened the door and invited him inside. She told him that they weren’t quite ready yet.
And then, in the blink of an eye, his granddaughter ran into the foyer from down the hall. She certainly was not quite ready yet – she was totally naked. With all the enthusiasm one would expect from an energetic 2 year old, she ran up to him with her arms outstretched and yelled,
“I’m ready!”
I love this story a speaker shared recently at our church service. I want to be like that little girl. I want to have that kind of passion toward my Heavenly Father. I want to start each day with an enthusiastic, “I’m ready!”
“I’m ready to walk with you today. I’m ready to spend time with you today. I’m ready to listen to you today. I’m ready to enjoy being with you today. I’m ready to obey you today. I’m ready to do what you want to do today. I just want to spend this day with you.
“Here I am naked before you God. I am not trying to hide anything. I’m not faking anything. I know there is nothing I can bring that is worthy of you except a humble and surrendered heart. I know all that you want is all of me. As best I know how I am offering myself anew to you today.
“You are my priority today. I want You more than anything. There is nothing on this earth I want more than You. I want to live in Your love, delight and presence today.”
What a great way to start the day. Our Heavenly Father delights in us. And just like this grandpa, our Father eagerly anticipates how we will walk with Him each day – how we will share our time and our heart with Him.
Yes, God is calling us to be courageous men of virtue who wholeheartedly partner with him in the epic adventure of the Kingdom of God in us and through us for the benefit of others. And, He is inviting us as vulnerable, carefree little boys to excitedly dive into time with Him – just for the joy of being with Him.
May we start each day with arms outstretched toward our Father passionately declaring,
“I’m ready!”
Romans 8:15-17 (The Message)
“This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!”
Psalm 51:17
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart O God, you will not despise.”
Revelation 3:17
“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”