Today, Landon and I were invited to a birthday party for my very best friend's daughter, Natalie! We were both excited to watch Natalie celebrate her birthday with her family and friends, and I was doubly excited because it meant I was able to spend the day outside with the most precious gift God ever blessed me with, my son Landon. But, I never expected to experience what happened next.
When we first arrived I noticed how large the playground was and how many people were also enjoying this beautiful day. I was a little apprehensive letting Landon lose to play freely with his friends without hovering over him the whole time, but I know he is getting older and I needed to loosen the reins a bit. I walked around the play ground to check it out and I was relieved that I was only able to find one way to exit, so with that peace of mind, I let him go and play. I even thought to myself, in that moment, I couldn't believe he was at the age now where I felt comfortable doing this. Every few minutes I would check on him and catch a glimpse of his little white head running around like the ninja he is, but then all of a sudden, I couldn't spot him.
It was a large playground so I initially didn't freak out and I started to walk through the play ground imaging his little head popping up and I would feel relieved...but I didn't. By this time the other adults had started to search for him also and I told myself "It's ok Bethany don't freak out just call his name" but after three times circling the area and calling his name over and over again, I LOST IT! This just can't be happening, my son can't be gone. I couldn't breath; people were asking me what he was wearing and I seriously didn't think I could get the words out of my mouth and not throw up. Tears were streaming down my face and I could barely yell his little name. I felt faint. I don't know how many of you reading this are parents or if this has ever happened to you before, but I don't know that I've experienced anything more heart wrenching and devastating. My baby boy was no where to be found, and I had no idea what happened to him. And just before I started to yelled to everyone on that playground to stay exactly where they were and not move, I heard "I think he his over here" For the next fifteen minutes I was in my own little world, I can't imagine loving anything more than I love that child and just the mere thought of him being gone from me was more than I could handle. Out of all the horrible things that I imagined could have happened to Landon when I was searching for him it had to be that someone had taken him from me. You see, I know what makes Landon happy and I know what makes him sad. I know everything about him, I know that he has two moles behind each of his little knees, and I also know that Leonardo is his favorite Ninja Turtle. He is my child and there isn't anyone else that knows him better than me........except God.
That's when I was overwhelmed how God must feel when we step out from under God's care and love. If I love Landon as much as I do and I am only human, can you even begin to imagine how much God loves YOU? Psalm 139 13-14 says it all "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." He made you, he knows exactly what you need and what you don't. He has plans for you and he had those plans long before you were born "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do"(Ephesians 2:10) He is YOUR creator, and He knows YOU!
Today, when I layed eyes on that precious boy, I immediately started running towards him. I didn't care that he had gone to a place I told him not to and I didn't care that I had to call his name over and over again with no answer. I was just happy that my child was back in my arms where he belonged, and I know if I feel this way about my child, I have no doubt it is how God feels about us.
God doesn't care where you are or where you have been. He doesn't care if he's been calling your name for the last twenty years with no response. He loves you more than you could ever imagine. His grace is never ending and his love is never failing, and He just wants you back in His arms where you belong!!!
If it's been a long time since you have heard just how much God loves you, I would like to encourage you to be my guest tomorrow morning at Revolution Church at the Central YMCA in Gastonia at 10:30
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
