Recently, on a trip to visit my elderly mom I was delighted when she gave me a large envelope that contained precious old photographs. There was one in the middle of the stack though that made me pause and then ultimately made me cry. You see, I lost my dad to COPD in 2004 and my world hasn't quite been the same since. He was that ”knight in shining armor” kind of dad that was always there when you needed him. He was a gentle giant if you will, who was somewhat content to stand a bit quietly in the background but was truly the mortar that kept all things secure. The photograph that opened the treasure box of emotions was one of my dad playing ” peek a boo” with me as a baby. When I saw that picture I somehow mentally ran through my life with him as if it were that whole ”life flashing before your eyes” moment. Everything about my time with him on this earth came flooding back to me in a few short seconds. Joy, laughter, dependency, love, security, trust, wisdom and faith. Among the myriad of memories one in particular was foremost to me. The term ’role model’ I recalled, best described my thoughts of dad. He wasn't perfect by any means but he always had his girls’ best interest at heart. He was a very good father and I was most blessed to learn and grow under his influence
There was something else here as well that made its way into my thoughts. This picture of my dad and me was also a beautiful picture of my relationship with my heavenly father. Here's my thought. . . . There are many times when I feel like my heavenly father is standing in the shadows of my life and he's there and then he's not. He's real but hiding some how, or at least it seems staying at a distance so I can't feel him or sense him. Much like my real dad playing peek a boo, darting back and forth .Now Im well aware that God’s always there but it feels sometimes like he's disappeared. I know instinctively though that he will pop back into my life and reveal himself.
I read somewhere that the early developmental years of a child are super important. And strangely enough the simple game of peek a boo helps the child go from complete trust and dependency on the parent to trusting that they will come back after hiding. This part helps the child grow in the development of their independence. So, the game of peek a boo is not just entertaining and fun but it's doing something important in the development of your childs personality. Who knew?
So, keeping all that in mind, when we feel like God is hiding in the shadows with us, just playing peek a boo, remember that just like a loving parent, he hasn't gone anywhere. He lovingly stands back while we learn a very important lesson in our development. He stands back while we learn to trust Him more. He never leaves but watches and at the most crucial and divine moment he's there again. Sounds a bit crazy huh! But just remember this. . . . . It's meaningful and it's doing something in us. It's building trust, faith and probably wisdom and our heavenly father/role model knows exactly what we need.
Jeremiah 32:19
“great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
