I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3.

This morning in our early morning prayer group, our presenter shared a story she read that speaks to the love that God has for each one of us. It was written by Jessica Hurlbut about a morning when her husband woke up to their 3 year-old daughter snuggled up next to him with a pen scribbling all over his Bible. As he went to reach for the pen, his daughter spoke the words, “Hi, Daddy.” Their daughter is severely autistic and non-verbal. Can you imagine what that moment was like? Pen forgotten. Hearing her voice. She went on to describe how God understood the loss and pain her husband felt in not being able to enter into his daughter’s closed world because He is our Father and we don’t speak to Him. I know your pain. I too am a Father and oftentimes, my children fail to acknowledge my presence….I don’t NEED them, but I desperately WANT them. They desperately NEED me, but don’t WANT me. My greatest desire is for them to stop what they are doing and look into my eyes. I don’t have a list of rules for them to follow or a regimented agenda for their lives. I just want a relationship. And I’m not mad.

Just excerpts from her story but how I love that – Hi, Daddy! Throughout the moments of my day today, and every day, I want to turn to my Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit – and say, “Hi, Daddy!”

Yesterday I was so frustrated with the state of all of us. There are people scheming for control that is absolute and it is a repeat of every other time in history humans have sought to control others because they thought they were worthy. Only God is worthy. So I go to Him in prayer and pour out my frustrations and He gives me His peace. Now, I’ll turn away from the scheming of men and instead turn to my God and say, “Hi, Daddy! I’m so glad you are here!”

I can’t help but sense David’s frustration with the scheming of men in this chapter, Psalm 39: I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.” So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased; my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure…But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you…” v. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7. He goes on to say, Hear my prayer, Lord, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were. Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more. v. 12, 13. Wow. Have you ever felt like that after prayer or after frustrations with this world? I have. Those were the times it felt like my prayers were stopped at the ceiling above me and the weight of worry remained within me.

I think, instead, I’ll say to God, Hi, Daddy! I will give to Him my mind and my heart and trust everything to His love and wisdom. Hi, Daddy brings me close to God my Father. Lord God, Daddy, my hope in is You, my life is in You, my everything is in You. Thank You for You.