father/daughter.

recently a few expereinces have spoken to my heart in deep ways. it's pretty incredible. i am not sure if it's the environment i am around which prompts these expereinces...or perhaps God's special grace showering down upon me during this period in my life.

i was sitting at the optional chapel service last week. i look down the aisle and see one of my profs sitting with his young daughter. the little girl is about ten with bright eyes and blonde hair pulled into uneven pigtails. the prof doesn't pay any attention to the speaker. but, is rubbing his daughters back and pulling his fingers through her hair. the girl sits there looking around the room as young kids do when forced to sit somewhere for an extended period of time. that prof loved his daughter. i could tell he would do anything to protect her. but, this little girl couldn't be protected from everything. i am certain she will be hurt eventually by this cruel world we live in. the father will not be able to stop it. but, i bet he will be there to comfort her when she is sad. i bet the father will be angry at what causes this girl grief...she's soo innocent! how could someone rob her of this innocence! how cruel would that be.

what an awesome heavenly father we have who loves us. he longs to protect us...but knows we must experience hurt if we are to ever grow and experience real love.

real life. this is part of the process of knowing him better. we must get hurt in order to grow. we must have chemo and be sick to get rid of the cancer. we must pull the arrow completely out even though it's painful at the time.

pain is needed...but what a loving father who loves us in the good, innocent times and the painful times.