Have you ever wished that you could relive moments from your life? When I was a kid, my family spent some happy vacations on Harstine Island in the southern end of the Puget Sound. We biked, fished off the dock, looked for shells on the beach and swam in a community pool.(I’ve even posted a funny story about it before!) I have often looked back at those memories and wished that I could go back and do it all over again. This summer, I got the chance. I hadn’t been back in decades, but everything was pretty much as I remembered it. The deer, the beaches, the forest, the pool, the trails… It was like stepping into a memory.
Except for one major thing — I was now the parent.
I was the one who had to say, “No, you can’t take home that dead crab.” And “Fishing is about patience, honey.” And, “No, you cannot feed (or pet) the deer — even if they do come up and ask.” And don’t forget, “No, you can’t roast marshmallows until you finish your hot dog. On second thought… who cares — go ahead.”
But there were benefits to being the parent, too. Watching my kids’ excitement when they gather shells at low tide. Witnessing frustration turn into glee when my son finally lands his first fish. “It’s a WHOPPER, Mom!” (All five inches or so of it.) Taking photos of my daughter dancing ballet at the water’s edge. And feeling my own heart ache at the tears in her eyes after I thoughtlessly mentioned the idea of cutting up her first fish to use as bait (“You can’t KILL Mrs. Flappy!”).
Somehow, the joy of watching my kids experience life is even better than remembering my own childhood fun.
Do you suppose it’s that way for God the Father, too? Does He really look on us with that level of pride and joy in His heart? The Bible says that He does — and with even more feeling that our weak human hearts can muster! One of my favorite verses comes from the book of Zephaniah. “He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zeph 3:17b NIV).
Not many people get to step back in time. But the best part of this vacation was watching my kids step forward. Remember, God is watching your steps today and He is taking great delight in what He sees.