Teddy Bears, Ponytails and Barbies
Some of our Canadian family are here with us for several days. I am delighted. They needed a break from the dire cold and snow. Our Austin temps complied – upper 80s and 90s while they are here. Just seeing Gord, Sher’s husband, and the dad of four girls and his patience, tolerance, devotion, and love for these women inspired this post today. I asked what these girls thought about their dad. Tynessa said her dad is a teddy bear. Karlei said her dad is the perfect “girl” daddy. When young, he put their hair in ponytails and played with their Barbies with them. Gord is the epitome of our Heavenly Father’s love for us – not just in the grandiose needs but the little, noticeable things like ponytails and teddy bears.
I know that love based on the relationship I have with my Heavenly Father. I remember feeling especially wimpy one day. I don’t remember why, but I do know that I was longing for a father’s love (my dad passed away when I was 15). I longed to feel his embrace, and hear him say, “Everything’s gonna’ be alright”.
The tears began to flow as I envisioned me crawling up into God’s lap and He WAS speaking those comforting and loving words to me. Then I realized God is more than a Father figure Who is stoic, stern and untouchable. I realized God is as close as I welcome Him to be in my life. I realized a father’s intimacy with His little girl. He was WHO I needed Him to be at just that moment.
Galatians 4:6, says “And because you are sons (and daughters), God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So, you are no longer a slave, but a son (and daughter), and if a son (and daughter), then an heir through God.” Jesus came to earth and hammered home the Father/Child relationship to us. In His prayer to His Father, Jesus said, “And I have declared to them Your Name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:26)
What name was Jesus referring to? It was the name “Father”. If there was anything close to Jesus’ heart, it was to introduce God as “Father” to us. He even showed us how to pray “Our Father, Who art in heaven……” Jesus wants us to always have this image of God in our minds — that He is our Abba, Father. Why? Because He wants us to know that there is nothing more important or too insignificant for the Father when it comes to His children.
Back to that image of a daddy with his little girl. What if she had a splinter embedded into her thumb and never told her daddy about it? She just kept enduring the pain. Her daddy found out about it and asked: “Why didn’t you tell me about it?” And she replied: “I thought you were too busy.” Or “I didn’t want to bother you.”
If you were that father, wouldn’t it break your heart to hear your child say that to you? A splinter may be a small thing, but there is nothing too small when it concerns our children. If it affects them, it affects us, too. And here’s the good news. No matter how old we are, we are still God’s children. We should never think that our problems are too small for Him. If it is important to us, it is important to our Father, too.
I pray that today, wherever you are, and whatever you’re facing that you slow down long enough to go to Abba, Father. Let Him be the teddy bear and ponytail maker of whatever you need today. Allow Him to hold you, embrace you and reassure you “Everything’s gonna’ be alright! I am with you, and I will always be here to remind you ‘You are mine! Trust Me. I’ve got this!” Go ahead. Crawl up on His lap and let Him be your loving Father today!