The faint sound of little footsteps is followed by a pause, and then the slow opening of the door. It happens the same way every morning.
I begin reading my Bible each day in the corner chair of my home office while my son is still in bed. But, without fail, before I finish reading and praying, he rises out of bed and sneaks into my study. I’m not sure why he sneaks up on me every time (as if I can’t hear him coming). I guess it’s just a fun little game we play in our morning routine.
I love the quiet of the morning. I need the solitude to help me prepare my frame of mind for the day before me. From the moment my alarm goes off, I can’t wait to sit in my chair with Bible in one hand and coffee in the other.
Yet, as much as I cherish my solitude, when my son opens the door to interrupt, I don’t mind at all. Because what happens next is a Father’s joy.
Every morning when he opens the door to my study, I put my Bible and coffee aside and he climbs up in my lap. For about 5 minutes each day, he snuggles up to me in silence resting his head on my shoulder. I think to myself, “I hope he never outgrows this.”
Sometimes, as we are snuggling in the early morning, I think of Christ’s words to His disciples in Matthew 19:14. “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
In the same way my son is coming to me, I must come to Christ as a little child. In fact, that’s what my time in God’s Word each morning is all about. After all, Jesus also said, “unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
So, there we are each morning, one child snuggling with his earthly father, who simultaneously is drawing near to his Heavenly Father.
Many believers hold to a mistaken sentiment that we must earn His affection and attention. However, Jesus made His desire to to love on His children abundantly clear in the words, “do not hinder them.” Just because we do not feel His presence doesn’t mean He is not there. The invitation to come as a child is just as true in the dry spells of spiritual life as it is in the overflowing times. We do not have to sneak up on the Lord -He is always welcoming His children to come unto Him.