Facial Recognition.

One Sunday morning at church I was walking through the hallway when I remembered that my youngest son would be in a new class. The ‘Waddler’ class. That is the age group of kids that have just started walking and are moved out of the baby nursery so they won’t trample on the littlest ones.

So this was my sons first week in this new class room. I will have to admit, it is a wonderfully cute sight to see a bunch of one year olds waddle through a class room. Each on his own course. Each really not that aware of what the other is doing or where they are headed. They occasionally take note of the others when they bump into each other or have grabbed the same toy at the same time, but in all reality they are little bodies that don’t really interact with one another …

So I stood there at a distance watching and being fascinated at this humorous sight of one year olds. When suddenly my son saw me and recognized me. His posture changed. His actions change. From a random seeming, self absorbed aimless waddle around the room, he switched over to a committed path with an expression of certainty on his face showing and voicing that he recognized me, wanted to be with me and was positioning himself to let the world know that I was his daddy and that we belonged together. In my arms. In my presence. From an individual doing his own one year old thing, to a child that belongs in his father’s arms.

And I will tell you, even though I really was just watching the strange and funny sight. Part of me wasn’t really trying to hide and all of me was thrilled when he acknowledged me and desired to be nowhere other than just with me. In my arms.

Our relationship with the heavenly father is not really any different. He watches us, not really trying to hide. He sees our actions and interactions. Observes our direction or lack thereof in our lives.  I would suggest he is honored, thrilled and filled with joy when we do what we were created to do, and that is acknowledge him. Position ourselves so the world sees that we are his and let it be known vocally and expressing it through our words.

The volunteers in the preschool rooms don’t really like it when I watch my kids and I understand why, my son recognizes me and it’s all over. He only wants to be with me. Oh to have that same passion for our Lord.