Recently, a friend posted that his little girl had dressed herself for the day. Lilly was adorable in her array of colors and multiple accessories. It reminded me of this photo I took on the National Day of Prayer in 2018. We had recently moved to Kentucky, and it was my first outing with new friends. Our plan was to attend the festivities and then have lunch together. My friends brought their daughters and I just had to snap this photo…..little Ellie had chosen her outfit for the day. It seemed that she wanted to be prepared for anything that could possibly happen….come rain or come shine.
It always makes me smile when I come across a child who has obviously chosen his or her attire for the day. I enjoy seeing the multiple colors selected, the combination of prints, and of course, the accessories. It is wonderful to see rain boots on a sunny day, a full princess dress and tiara at Target, or a little boy’s cowboy boots with his shorts.
I often wonder if God looks at us, His children, with the same type of smile. Amused as we prepare for our days…..umbrellas bracing for the impending storms, sunglasses in the hope of sunshine and happy days. How often we mismatch our talents and abilities in an attempt to juggle our various roles…..partner, parent, employee, friend, volunteer….. We may have a whole assortment of colors or feelings mixed together as we move through our lives…..joy and heartache, celebration and grief, compassion and resentment….. And some days, we may just get it all wrong, overdressing in our tiara, as we make a mess of things.
And yet, I believe our Father tenderly smiles at us and at our attempts to “get it all together”. He compassionately understands our efforts, our abilities, our emotions and our shortcomings. How blessed are we to have a loving Father who gently guides us, allows us to make choices, and is there through it all…..the good times and the mismatched times.
So, the next time you smile at a child who clearly dressed himself…..remember that your Heavenly Father is smiling at you, His child, also.
But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12
