After months of planning and preparation, the day had
finally come for Becky’s surprise 40th birthday party. Becky’s
birthday is October 28 and her dad’s was the 29th. Since the time she was a teenager, they had
always celebrated with Mexican food and a picture of them in sombreros. This party, however, was all Pop’s idea. Several
months prior, he had organized meetings, brainstormed, hired and met with a
caterer (and even went out to lunch with him), secured a location, and combed through
decades of pictures to create a 30 minute video tribute (which he poured dozens
of hours into). He could not wait to bless his daughter. It was his joy to do
so.
The image that will forever be etched in my mind, and one
that evidently had an impact on me at the time, due to all of the pictures I
have of just this one part of the event, was Pop looking out the window
for Becky to arrive. He was like a kid in a candy store. Eager. Expectant.
Overjoyed. He couldn’t wait for her to walk through the door and to have a night
celebrating her. It had nothing to do with him…. He wanted to bless her, give
her good gifts, and put her in the limelight, even though, really, he was
behind it all. In fact, Becky wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for her dad!
Nor would she be the woman she is without the great influence he had on her
life.
The night was fantastic. It went off without a hitch. Days
later, Becky approached me and asked if I knew how much the catering cost,
because she wanted to help pay for it. I remember telling her that her parents
wouldn’t even consider it—that they loved her so much. It was as if nothing to
them. Spare no expense. I want to bless my daughter, because… she’s my daughter.
There was so much in the planning process and actual
event of this party that made me think about a father’s love, and ultimately
the Father’s love toward His children. What a picture of this we had in Jack
and Becky’s dad, and what a blessing that is. I think we often struggle to see God
this way—especially when we mess up, or aren’t at our “best.” So, if a human
father can show us just a small glimpse of the essence of God’s love, how much more
does the perfect, all knowing, all mighty, Creator of our souls, full-of-love-God
love us, view us, and want to bless us?
He gave and continues to give to us.
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us
all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans
8:32
And…
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down
from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting
shadows. James 1:17a
He can’t wait to be with us.
“In My Father’s
house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you.” John 14:2
He thinks about us.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot
be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! Psalm
139:17
He saves us, delights in us, comforts us and rejoices over
us.
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He
will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will
rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
So, we have a God who over and over again in His Word
tells us how much he loves us. He is ultimately:
With us
For us
Our Creator (not a single other person in all of history
is exactly like us—He purposefully designed us).
I have a feeling that God is in the party business. And the
blessing business. And head of the joy department. And the crazy thing is that we
don’t deserve it one bit. His love for us is deep, steadfast, and ultimately unconditional.
The first stanza of How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
sums this up so well.
How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
This side of Heaven, I am convinced we cannot come close
to understanding God’s love for us. But, I am incredibly thankful for moments
on earth that remind us of this fact as far as we can comprehend, especially when Satan is constantly
trying to tell us otherwise.
I will never forget Becky’s dad standing at that window, with
a huge smile on his face, waiting eagerly for his daughter. It is a perfect
image of a father’s love forever etched in my mind and on my heart.
Happy birthday Becky!
And happy first birthday in Heaven, Pop.
