“The Lord your God is in your midst . . . He will exult over you with joy . . . He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17
I sat in a chair on the patio overlooking my back yard in the cool shade of a summer evening. My grandson, 3 years old, sat in my lap. He leaned back into my chest. His head rested under my chin; his legs dangled down between mine.
“Papa, have you ever been bit by a wolf spider?”
“Yes, I have. Not a big deal. Just two small dots and a little round bump.”
We sat in silence for a moment.
“Did it hurt?”
“No, it just itched. It went away in a day or two.”
“Papa, did you know there are wolf spiders over there under the stairs?”
I doubted this, but said, “Oh really, better not go over there.”
We talked about wolf spiders for several more minutes. I was amazed by his quiet focus, he’s normally such an active boy. Finally, he ran out of words. We sat quietly. I loved the feel of his small body, the smell of his hair. I loved the crisp air; the twilight hues in the sky; the stillness; this moment.
“Papa, I just want to be with you all the time.”
I think he thought this was possible. I wished it were so.
We sat quietly some more, and I thought, I have never heard anyone say, “I just want to be with you all the time.” I wondered, is this something God would say – to me? Does He really love to be in my presence?
Thank you, Lord, Your Word says You most definitely love to be in my presence, You exult over me with joy, You rejoice over me with shouts of joy!
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