The sight of my 14-month-old grandson, Nolan, hurrying towards me as fast as he could go with his newly-gained skill of walking, was so precious. His little face was lit with excitement as he toddled down the long aisle of the church.
As he got closer, I leaned down ready to catch him for a hug and kiss…and that’s when he slipped under my outstretched arms and grabbed my purse. “Bite bite! Bite bite,” he said.
Hmm…seems the excitement wasn’t as much for me as for the treat waiting in my handbag.
All of my grandchildren know that I usually have something tucked in there for them. Those sparkling eyes when I pull the treats out of my purse make it worth every penny I spend on them. We both get joy out of it.
It makes me smile when four-year-old Ava says, “What do you have for me, Grandmama?” Not “Do you have something for me?” but “What do you have for me?” I love the confidence she has in knowing that she is loved, and that because I love her I enjoy giving things to her.
Friends, sometimes we forget that our Father loves us and enjoys giving treats to His children—but the truth is that His pockets are filled with them. So what does He have tucked away for us?
- There’s love—unlimited love whenever we want or need it. Just as my beloved grandbabies scooch close when they’re hurt or scared, we can snuggle close to the One who loved us so much He gave His Son for us. It’s impossible to be more loved than that! See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. (I John 3:1)
- There is mercy for times when we’ve messed up, for days when we’ve disappointed Him. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)… (Ephesians 2: 4-5)
- He has sweet grace and forgiveness—even though we don’t deserve it. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (12 Hebrews 4:16)
- He has comfort and rest for when we’re weary. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11: 28)
Do you need a sweet treat from God today? Run to Him and ask, “What do You have for me, Father?” Just as little Ava knows I’ll have something for her in my purse, you can rest assured that God will always have all that you need. His pockets will never be empty, and His sweet treats are just waiting for you to come get them.
