de·light·ed a
feeling or showing great pleasure, a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy; rapture:
I was on a mission to Target
Store to look for a pizza stone. Cathy and I had a hankering for homemade pizza
and decided that we needed some fresh ingredients. So, it was a “since you are
going you might as well pick up other things on the list” trip; which was OK
because it was a good way to transition from the work week to a Friday night
with not much on the agenda.
As I pulled into the parking
lot at Target, I rejoiced that I was able to drive as I thought about a friend
of mine who had not yet been able to get his license back after he lost it
because of a DUI. I rejoiced that I was able to pick which of our vehicles I
wanted to drive. And I was grateful to have this time to simply take my time
and shop.
Yes ladies, there are some of us men who actually like
to shop for our wives!
In the store I took my time
as I “aimlessly” wandered all the while keeping to the mission at hand;
securing a pizza store and fresh ingredients, as well as the other items on the
list since I was going to Target.
Just as I was starting to
actually secure items on my list, I looked up and saw a young dad pushing his daughter (who was less than 1 year old) in a shopping cart. At the same time I looked up, the little
girl looked at me and pointed. The smile on her face even at this writing is
indescribable. She beamed with sheer delight as her eyes opened wide and her
smile filled her face as though I was someone she knew.
To bring the reader up to speed I will note that it is
very normal for me to be in public spaces, churches, etc. and have children
come over to me and request that I pick them as though I was some relative.
Why? I simply do not know. Perhaps the see something in me that even I can’t
see in myself; perhaps they see love. And, many times, I have been able to hold
the child and get the child to go to sleep in my arms; much to the delight of a
parent who had been trying to do so.
The little girl’s dad said to her; “Honey, say hi”; which only encouraged her to begin to engage in this exchange of loving glances that were followed with continued sheer delight and a smile that filled her face. She continued looking for me as I went from shelf to shelf looking for the items on my list while she seemed fixed on trying to find me as I would move behind a display.
Eventually, she began a game
of hide and seek by turning her face away and then back again as she once again
responded with sheer delight as she found me and our eyes once again locked.
And my heart melted as this
little child showed love to me by acting as though I was some friend whom she
recognized. And I was delighted with her and this opportunity to be loved by a
complete stranger, and grateful that I was able to see the face of God in a
little child.
“He (Jesus) put a child in the middle
of the room. Then, cradling the little one in His arms, He said, “Whoever
embraces one of these children as I do embraces Me, and far more than Me—God
who sent Me.” (Mark 9:36-37 MSG)
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
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