[Faith-talk] {Spam?} Daily Thought for Saturday, June 18, 2016

[Paul Smith]

Hello to all out there, and especially a big "hello!" to all dads 
reading these lines.  Hope that your day is going well, by God's 
matchless grace and His providential care.

Some years ago Kay Arthur, a well-known Christian book author and 
broadcaster, wrote something that I've shared with many of you before, 
but many haven't read it previously.  So for all, whether the first or 
second time, here is Kay Arthur's piece entitled "Running For Daddy," 
rendered as follows:

When I was a little girl--just a skinny little beanpole with 
pigtails--I used to run to my daddy for comfort.  I was a tomboy who 
consistently fell out of trees, got into fights, and crashed my 
bicycle.  It seemed like I was forever bloodying those poor, banged-up 
knees of mine.  That's when I would run, with pigtails flying and dirty 
tears streaming down my face, to my daddy.  "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!"

And I'm so fortunate, because I had a daddy who held me.  Ever since I 
was a little girl until the day he went to be with the Lord, I was 
always his little sweetheart.  And I would fly into his open arms, and 
he would gather me up on his lap--dirt, blood and all--and hold me 
there.  And he would wipe my tears and push back my pigtails and say, 
"Now Honey, tell Daddy all about it."

Many years later I was hurting again, so very deeply.  But I couldn't 
run to my daddy.  I was a single mom with two little kids, trying to 
work and go to school.  And it was one of those days when everything 
seemed to catch up with me--all of the hurt and loneliness and regret 
and pressure and weariness.  I remember driving into the driveway of 
the little brick home where we were living.  I got out of the car and 
began walking down the little gravel walkway toward the front door.

For some reason, time seemed to stand still for a moment.  To this day 
I can't tell you what triggered the thought, but suddenly--in my mind's 
eye--I saw something.  I saw a little girl running.  I saw a little 
girl with tears streaming down her face and banged-up, bloody knees on 
those skinny legs.  I saw her in need of her daddy.  Running for her daddy.

Then suddenly--strangely--I saw her running down a huge, shiny 
corridor.  A vast corridor with gleaming marble walls and beautiful 
windows spilling heavenly light.  And at the end of that marble hallway 
were massive doors of brilliant gold.  Standing before those doors were 
bright, powerful guards with great spears.  And I knew that the little 
girl was me, and that I was running toward the very throne room of God, 
sovereign ruler of the universe.  Yet I was the daughter of the King of 
Kings, so when the guards saw me coming, they swung open those doors 
and let me run in.  There I was, weeping and running into the very 
presence of God.  I heard the cherubim and the seraphim crying out, 
"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! Heaven and earth are full of Thy 
glory!" Many bowed before the throne, and court was in session, but I 
just ran and ran and didn't stop.

I could just see myself running up the wide stairs to that glorious 
throne--two steps at a time--crying "Abba, Father! Daddy!" And I could 
see Him stopping everything, opening His arms wide and just gathering 
me to His chest, saying, "There, there, My precious child.  Let Me wipe 
away those tears.  Tell your Father all about it."

It has been years since I encountered the founder of Precept 
Ministries, let alone heard her radio broadcast, but what she said in 
this relatively short piece spoke volumes to me, and I hope it likewise 
did the same for you.

And that will do it for today but, Lord willing tomorrow in this space 
will be another weekly Bible trivia game poem for you, then from the 
Old Testament.  Until then may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just 
keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in 
which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul