"Thou my great Father, and I thy true son"
So as many of you know, I am a nanny to three girls: Taylor (11), Lilly (8), and Molli (3).
Just about every Thursday, I drop the older two off at dance, and Molli and I go to Chick Fil A to pass the couple of hours until we pick them up again. I always pray for friends for her to play with. Yesterday, the Lord answered in ways different than I had expected. A friend came to play for a little then had to leave. Another friend came and left. So she and I got some quality time :) I love this little girl so much. I want her to know the Lord and His love for her, so I am dependent everyday to love her well, pursue her, serve her, discipline her, and enjoy her.
I saw something so precious - a glimpse of the gospel - that encouraged me immensely to continue to press on in this Godly desire everyday with them (and my future kids).
There was a family of five that came in and sat at the booth in front of me. The kids were incredibly patient, waiting for everyone to get their food without complaining. They prayed together and thanked Jesus for many things. Well, you know how Chick Fil A does that wonderful thing with kids where they can trade in their toy for ice cream? Each of the kids did that after they each got through eating.
The little boy - he must have been about 7 or 8 - came back to his dad and with joy written on his face asked, "Dad, do you want the top of my ice cream??"
The dad responded, "That is awfully nice of you, are you sure?"
The boy nodded in full assurance.
I was blown away.
This little boy wanted his daddy to have "the best" part of his ice cream. He joyfully offered without any hesitation. I thought, "What a beautiful picture of the gospel." This little boy (and I'm going out on a limb here to help my explanation because I obviously do not know this family) loves his daddy so much that he wants to give away what most kids (and adults ha) would not even think twice about sharing. Because of the Fall, our nature wants to please self, not God or others. This little boy has no doubt seen the gospel modeled to him by his parents. When we get the gospel, we want to give our Daddy our best, but we see that our best is filthy rags before Him. But praise the Lord for His provision in Christ that we might have freedom to experience the incredible relationship we were made for. If we are in Christ - having placed all our faith in His life, death, & resurrection as our only Way to life eternal with God - we are delighted in unconditionally! This changes us. We want to please Him and sacrifice for Him and others and see joy written all over His face because His pleasure in us brings us the most joy.
So let us press on, living out and proclaiming the gospel everyday in every opportunity. I want this little Molli, and Taylor and Lilly, to know this life-changing truth and freedom in the wonder of the gospel.
"Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art."
