Delighted

  Rusty and I just love to delight our family and friends during visits.  We've found over time that it really doesn't take a lot to do that. Just spending quality time with people, ensuring we have plenty of their favorite foods, a comfortable place to sleep (and that's not always a requirement) and focusing on them while they're with us is usually all it takes.

  Where our grandsons are concerned, they are so easy to delight.  Plenty of cardboard boxes to build tunnels with, matchbox cars to play with,  fruit snacks, wrestling on the floor, and even quiet time on our laps delights them to no end.   That in turn gives us great pleasure to see them so happy.  To see the sparkle in their eyes, to hear their genuine and unabashed laughter, to feel their tight hugs and hear them say "Papa and Neena, we love you", has to be the greatest joy to our hearts.

   But for a select few other people in our life, no matter what we do, they never display delight.  You can go the extra mile to ensure everything you know about their likes are emphasized while their dislikes are minimal, and yet, it doesn't appear to matter.  They are so consumed with worry, sadness, stress, and self, that they can never seem to escape those feelings and enjoy the moment.  Some  appear to never be happy about anything unless they can be miserable about something. It really breaks our heart and we just want to shake them (no, that wouldn't be delightful to them but it would us ;-)) and have them see the good and quit focusing on the negative. 

  But today it hit me. How many times does God want to delight me with the everyday things like a beautiful sunset, shooting starts, beautiful array of birds in my bird feeder, or a clear sun-filled day, and yet, I'm too focused on the "burdens" of life or just too "busy".  All He wants is to see the sparkle in my eyes, a squeal of laughter, time spent with me on His lap, and to hear me say "Father, I love you".  How many times do I disappoint Him and go around with my "woe is me" focus?  I wonder sometimes why He doesn't shake me more to get my attention.  He does get my attention though and uses many different ways to do it.  But I'm praying about doing a better job of letting Him delight in me as I delight in Him and all that He has done, is still doing, and will do in the future for me and for you.

"Trust in the LORD and do good;
   dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
  Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.
   Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in him and he will do this"

Psalm 37:3-5