Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Two Little Friends

Last summer my family and I spent several days at the beach to celebrate my 6oth birthday.  One day I spent quite a while just floating out in the water.  During that time I noticed a school of fish about 10 or 15 feet beyond me.  Quite a few of the fish were jumping out of the water and the sea gulls kept a steady flight above this stream of fish.

As I was watching, I felt something nudge me around my knees.  The water was crystal clear and I could see all the way to my feet.  Swimming around my legs were two little fish, not more than three or four inches long.  They would have been a perfect snack for the larger fish in front of me.

I expected these tiny fish to swim away, but they did not.  In fact, when I moved, they moved with me.  I moved in different directions to see if they really were following me and they did.  It finally dawned on me that staying close to me gave them a safety they did not feel out in the open water.

Now some people don't like it when tiny fish brush up against them at the beach, but I have always thought that was just part of the experience.  I did nothing to cause my little friends to move until I was ready to leave the waters.

As I slowly walked through the water back to shore, my little friends stayed close beside me.  It wasn't until I reached the surf and stepped on  shore that we were parted.  I could see them still in the clear white foam of the waves.

I had provided them with shelter and safety and I was glad to do so.  I didn't tire of their noses rubbing against my legs.  In fact, I enjoyed the experience of having them follow me.

How often we feel as if we are "bothering" our heavenly Father? How often do we believe He tires of us coming to Him over and over again.  But never, not once, has the Lord felt a tiresome moment when His children called to Him.  In fact, the Bible tells us of the Lord that "before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:24.)

He loves His sons and daughters so much that, like the prodigal's father, He is watching and waiting for our attention to turn to Him. He delights in our prayers, in our coming to Him and delight cannot be tiresome.


"How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God!  
Therefore the children of men 
put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings!"  
Psalm 36:7

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