Here I Am Daddy!

Adriana, my 2 year old, is an incredibly intense young person. When she gets focused on something, it can take some work to pull her attention away. One area of interesting intensity surfaces when I arrive home after the office or being gone for a significant period of time. As I arrive I might find Adriana immediately at the door with these bright words, "Here I am Daddy!" I immediately sweep her up in my arms and we have our "moment". Or there will be other times I will arrive home and not find her at the door. As I begin to look for her, I might find her playing with the blocks over on the floor. I go to her and she will completely ignore me. I can kiss her, tickle her, talk to her, hug her...nothing will remove her from her focus on the blocks. I can lift her and she will bend her body like she is still playing with the blocks. Though I wish I would immediately gain her attention, I enjoy the game of winning her over, and do my best to open her heart. (This would always take about one kiss and a tickle with Elena.) However, the game can last for several minutes with Adriana, and she will usually barely let me in with a lean and a partial snuggle and then return to her blocks. The next moment is always very important, and repeats itself often. I will slowly stand to my feet, resolve myself to let Adriana play with the blocks, and slowly turn away. It is at this moment that Adriana drops everything she is doing and runs to catch me yelling these words, "Here I am Daddy!" My heart leaps as I sweep her up in my arms in a fantastic hug. I love those words and I love those moments.

It reminds me of our relationship with God. How often do we barely lean in to Him when He is trying to get our attention, we are just consumed with the "blocks of life". We need to make sure we turn to Him with these words, "Here I am Daddy!"