The Happy Dance

The Happy Dance

Our younger son had completed medical school and was serving out his five-year residency.  His hours were long and hard, working away from home, at one point, for nearly 120 hours a week.  Though those requirements have been changed by law, now, most physicians are still on call, days, nights, and holidays, in order to minister to their patients.  Jamie had not seen his baby daughter awake for nearly ten days.  Before he left for the hospital, early in the morning, he would tip-toe into her room and pray for her as he slipped out into the darkness.  When and if he got home, late at night, he would, again, tip-toe quietly into her room, sometimes rocking himself to sleep, as he sat in the chair in her room and watched her sleep.

After about ten days of watching her from afar, Jamie could stand it no longer.  As he crept into her room at about 2 a.m., he could no longer restrain himself from reaching into the crib and picking up his sleeping baby girl.  He knew that he might be waking her from a sound sleep and that he might be up the rest of the night, putting her back to sleep.  However, as he told me, he had to see his little girl.  As he nestled her against his chest, he saw her little eyes begin to flutter, and he thought, “Uh-oh.  I’ve done it, now.  She’s awake and about to start crying.”

Much to his shock, though, that was not Amelia’s response.  Instead, as she gently shook some of the sleep from her eyes, she saw her daddy.  Her face broke into a joyous smile, as she reached up her little hand and began to pat her daddy’s cheek.  Suddenly, her little legs began to do what we had, affectionately, termed her happy dance.  When she seemed to be overcome by excitement, she just had to move!  As Jamie snuggled with her for a few minutes, with her hand still stroking his face, she nestled against him and, once again, she was sound asleep.

How long has it been since you have been overcome at the presence of your Heavenly Father?  How long has it been since you snuggled into His infinite chest and rested in His love for you?  Romans 8:15 states that, through the Spirit of adoption and the blood of Jesus Christ, we can call Jehovah God, Daddy.  Have you loved on your Daddy today?  Have you been so excited to see Him that you, like King David, have blessed Him with your happy dance?  Our son wanted time with his daughter, and his daughter delighted in his presence.

No matter what kind of earthly dad you may have had, your Heavenly Father is waiting for you to delight in His presence, as He delights in yours.  That kind of love demands a happy dance.

(06/23/10)