Monday, December 29, 2014

A Loving Father...

When I was in grade 1, I was completely fascinated by a boy in my class. He was a brilliant boy who was good at everything. He topped not just the class but the entire grade. He always won the singing competition, the elocution competition, the general knowledge quiz and every competition in school. Every time the teacher asked a question, he knew the answer.  Every single time. And that really impressed me. I was so awestruck by him that I just couldn't stop talking about him.

My daddy usually picked me up from school on his cycle. I sat on a little seat on the cycle bar telling daddy all about my day in school while daddy pedaled me home. And all my stories used to be about this boy. I'd say "Daddy, it took Mahesh only 1 minute to solve the maths sum on the blackboard and the teacher made us all clap for him" and "Daddy, Mahesh won the trophy for the general knowledge quiz" and "Mahesh got selected to represent the school in the inter-school elocution competition". One time my daddy said "You really like that boy, don't you?" And my cheeks turned beetroot red.

That was the first time I realized what it meant to like a boy in a fuzzy way. I didn't know I liked him. But all along daddy knew. And while I was praising him to the skies, he was thinking to himself, "My baby girl has her first crush!" Throughout my school life, at the start of each new academic year,  daddy asked if Mahesh was in my class. He knew that would make me happy. He also knew I secretly hoped that we would be in the same class.

An earthly father limited in so many ways, knows his child's needs. Finite in his understanding and he understands his child's secret longings. Without explaining our feelings our parents understand what's going on.

But we have a Father in Heaven who surpasses the best earthly dad. This Father gave us salvation. I didn't ask for it. If He left it to me I would never ask. I would ask for a car, a house and a spouse, it would never cross our mind to ask GOD to save my soul. Now that I am saved by His grace I know that its no profit if I gained the whole world but lost my soul. I thank GOD for not answering those many prayers that would cause me momentary joy but a lifetime of heartache. I always miss asking what's best for me.

I constantly have to remind myself that just as He gave me salvation without me asking for it, He will take care of the other details too. He is not too busy to miss the details of my life or the desires of my heart. He knows the count of the hair on my head and not one of them turns grey without His consent. This comforts me - He knows what I need and He allows what happens to me!