My son (who is 6 years old) has been wearing a lot of green around the house lately, not in an envy sort of way, literal green. He and Dave have been cheering for the Boston Celtics (basketball) during the season and now especially throughout playoffs. Dave bought him a Celtics jersey this spring in hopes that his son would become a fan just like he is a fan. I too jumped on board and found him a vintage Boston Celtics t-shirt. Between Alexander's complete devotion to Dave and absolute infatuation with clothing of the sort - it worked. He is a fan.
Last night we had a book club meeting at our house. Alexander was watching the game downstairs while we were meeting upstairs. For the first few minutes of the game he came up every time Boston scored. Enough of us were distracted by the thought of missing the game that we had to ask him to just inform us of when the Lakers got ahead. So throughout the evening we would hear an excited 6 year old cheer every time Boston scored. It brought a smile to my face every time! I even ran down once to kiss his sweet face and hear his take on the game.
At half time I had to turn the TV off and tuck him into bed. He fell asleep with the jersey beside his bed, ready to put it on first thing in the morning should they win.
This morning, REALLY early - 5:44am - our son ran to our room and in that I-can't-control-the-volume-of-my-voice asked, "Dad, did the Celtics win??" We all shared a moment of disappointment and pulled him into our bed to sleep it off.
I love that. I have been studying Psalm 119 and this love and joy Alexander has for his Dad is an example to me of the way the Psalmist truly needs God's love; believes and is delighted with God.
Our son LOVES his Dad. He studies his behaviours, He makes cards for him at school all the time with the cutest poems and drawings. He speaks fondly of his Dad and knows for a fact that his Dad loves him. Dad's interests are his interests. He wakes up in the middle of the night remembering things that are important to him.
The Psalmist finds this complete delight in God. He meditates on God's word and it is life! Read Psalm 119: 55 and 62.
In the night I remember your name, O Lord,and I will keep your law.
At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.
When we read phrases like these in these verses and throughout Psalm 119 we see how much time the psalmist invests in God's Word. He remembers, he clings to, he meditates on, he finds comfort in it. When he wakes up at night or can't fall asleep at night his thoughts are on God; on giving Him praise. These verses are among stanzas filled with affliction and the Psalmist is refusing vain imaginations and choosing to remembering God and to give Him thanks.
Two favourite passages of mine that I say to fight my tendency to worry are from Matthew 6:25-34 and Philippians 4:6-7.
My prayer is that you would delight in God. That when you wake up at night you would remember the Words and Testimonies of God. That when fear threatens you at night, you would replace that with the Word of God, letting that wash over you and bring you peace and confidence.
Thanks for the encouragement!
ReplyDeleteAt the sound of your name.............
ReplyDeleteThanks as well for the encouragement Nicole.
I was reflecting lately in the passage of John 20 where Mary Magdalene was found weeping by the empty tomb by Jesus. I thought it interesting that someone who was delivered from such great depths, who walked so closely with Jesus and who at times simply clung to Him didn't even recognize Him when he met her at the tomb. I realized at this moment how deep her grief must have been .
It was not his physical presence that she was awakened to but the sound of His voice that brought her rushing back to reality. It was at the sound of her name by the lips who spoke the world into existence. It was at the call of her name.....Mary.
How her heart must have melted, how something in her soul must have awakened. It made me thing of the song, He knows my name. He knew her so intimately and the love that must have been enveloped in her name was the very thing that led her to see the Risen Savior.
I pray this weekend that souls would be awakened. That the name of each and every person be heard coming from the lips of the one that spoke the world into existence. That in response to the sound of our name, we would offer our hearts completely to Him. That this would be the gift we would bring to Him this Father's Day. He is the one we worship. He is the One True Father.