The plane stopped about 20 feet from the gate and a picture appeared on my phone with the words "When is Mommy coming?"
Heart melted I could only respond, "I will run."
When I read Jesus' words in Matthew 25:13, "Watch...for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming," this picture came back to my mind. A visual of how much the Lord longs for His children to be in heart when He comes to get us.
I sipped my morning coffee and whispered in prayer, "Happy Father's day. Forgive me for not being patient in waiting as I look through darkened glass for Your appearing (1 Cor. 13:12). Forgive me for the days I rather wait comfortably in my car of apathy, or busy about life until clearer notice that you are descending through heaven's corridor. I forget the joy Your Father heart must have when You see my eyes anchored with anticipation because of love and hands pressing against every obstacle anticipating Your embrace. Thank You for allowing me to feel this small glimpse of parental craving." As I stood waiting on the plane yesterday, I replayed coming around the corner and seeing her eyes filled with love that could barely wait for me and had cried several times over our separation. It made my heart swell.
What a Father we have that allows us to have pictures of His love for us scattered throughout our days. What an Abba Daddy that would leave His words to convey His heart's anticipation at our homecoming to heaven. "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find watching" Luke 12:37.
I took a picture of this same little girl years ago. She couldn't talk yet but I had said to her, "Daddy is coming home soon" and her toddling legs pivoted around and awkwardly ran-fell towards the living room window. She stayed there until his car drove down the road and then with drool-covered fingers, she slapped at the glass and shouted with toothless joy. I pray that she and I both live out our days pressing and gazing and longing through life's dark glass with eyes fixed for the One Who loves us supremely and will take us home to our Father.
"In the same way, when you see all these things,
you can know His return is very near, right at the door." NLT Matthew 24:33
