Sometimes a Fever is Great

Yesterday my oldest daughter had a fever. As a young parent, getting news that your child is sick causes two reactions simultaneously. You are concerned for the health and wellbeing of your child while feeling a tremendous sense of doom and stress. I was genuinely concerned about her. When SG gets sick, it’s usually a highly involved situation. This time however, I felt that stress part a lot more. A sense of impending agony just began to creep up inside me. Anita had to go to a meeting, which meant Dad and the girls for the duration. Anita also mentioned that Rylee had been acting fussy all day. I came home prepared to be very patient and understanding. To my surprise, last night was a wonderful experience. Rylee seemed elated that I was home and played in the floor with her toys and being silly all night. SG had the lowest energy level she has ever had in her three years of life. She was content to lie on the couch and watch Mulan for the hundredth time or sit on my lap while I held her. As a Dad this might have been one of those moments of perfection. I got the chance to sit and hold my sweet little princess while my little Georgia peach was playing and laughing in front of me. It was a moment I’ll remember for a long time and bore them to tears with when they grow up.
I have to imagine that this is what God longs for with us. Moments to hold and console us, while His other children laugh and play in the creation He has designed for them. Even when we’re sick or caught in sin, He still hopes we’ll come running to Him for shelter. Why is it that we keep trying to deal with it on our own? There is something about being a man that makes a woman’s tears like kryptonite to our feelings. When SG has done something wrong my anger and hurt is melted to compassion and care when she begins to cry in the realization of her wrong actions. God, along with being all-powerful and jealous, is a loving Father. I have to believe that He would rather we come to Him in all situations; especially when we’ve screwed up or been hurt. His wrath becomes grace when we come before Him in repentance. Yet we keep running and denying time after time as if we could keep God in the dark. HE’S THE OPPOSITE OF THE DARK! He knows. He knows we messed up. He knows we’re going to mess up again. He knows we hurt and that it’s not always our fault. He knew all that and still says, “Come to Me.” He is a great God and an even greater Father. Take some time to crawl up on His lap and let Him hold you. If for no other reason than to give Him one of the “moments.”