Give it to me straight: Your Heavenly Father loves you with a love that embraces with hugs. He nurtures us as a tender father holds his newborn. Our learnings and growings are not cause for frustration, but actually make God’s heart swell with delight and love over you. He longs for you to return his embracing hug too.
When my little one, Forrest, began clutching on to toys just weeks into his earth side journey, I wrote it down as a milestone and invited friends over to play.
Watching him clumsily hold on to things became a joy greater than I could have ever imagined. He seemed to be at the whims of his body’s movements as his body practiced motion after motion. Such a minute task was covered in wonder and joy as his exploration of the world became the reason for the smile I held. His unawareness of the sheer wonder of his existence tickled me.
Everything he did appeared random in this stage, and yet I knew he was preparing for something. I watched and waited for the moment when he’d finally move with intentionality.
I learned quickly that parenthood is a wild journey of watching this little person discover the world. It starts with spastic movements and jerky motions as baby hardly knows what he’s doing. Each motion, as random as it may seem, is practice for the real thing. Over and over until one day he can do it with intentionality. Until one day it doesn’t feel so random.
Heavenly Love Embraces Us, Even When We Don’t Yet Understand It
When Forrest was only a few months old, my husband, Travis, would scoop him up for a hug. Forrest’s smile would turn to a giggle as he’d listen to his daddy say, “I got you!”
I’d watch as Travis would tenderly position Forrest’s arms around his neck, as if hugging him. They’d sway around the kitchen, holding one another tight.
Travis savored this hug as a reflection of love, while Forrest sat in his father’s arms simply because they were the closest thing in reach.
Forrest held on because that’s all he knew to do. He didn’t understand the significance of a hug or how to do it himself yet. He was still at the whims of his body’s learning. But his father held him tightly. He didn’t know it, but he was in the safest place on this side of heaven in those arms.
Travis would look over at me and say, “I can’t wait for the day when Forrest means to hug me.”
And something within me would smile, because I understood what he meant. We both loved this child exactly where he was, but also looked ahead with longing to the day when he’d be able to express the love we shared with him every day.
Heavenly Love Embraces Us With Patience
I am reminded of our Heavenly Father’s gentle love every time I remember Travis with our small infant.
As I watched his gentle hands nurture a weak and vulnerable child, I saw his desire for Forrest to intentionally return his love. We knew that Forrest’s spastic motions and clumsy clutches were gearing him up for the real thing. Practice day in and day out. And as any good father would do, Travis waited with grace and patience for the day his expression of love will be returned with intentionality.
Travis loved his son exactly where he was in that moment, and yet never gave up on the day when Forrest would share in his father’s love.
This Embrace of Heavenly Love is for You
Do you see the parallel?
God loves you exactly where you are now and does not give up on the day when you will share in your Heavenly Father’s love.
He watches you with tender care. As you seek to make sense of the world around you and take steps forward, no matter how clumsy, his eyes look on you with love adoration. He does not resent your small steps or weak holds. He doesn’t expect you to be bigger than you are in this moment.
No, this God rejoices over you in this present moment. He is so keenly aware of where you are and meets you there. He watches in wonder and expresses his love every day, whether or not you express it back to him. You’re a creation of his.
You are loved with a heavenly love that embraces you with hugs, whether or not you can see it yet.
That’s really the easiest way to say it.
Regardless of your ability or desire to express it, he’s happy to be with you as you are today. And yet, he waits with patience for the day when you will return his embrace in total trust.
Friend, our Heavenly Father happily receives whatever we have to offer while also looking ahead with eager anticipation at the day we will reciprocate his love because we want to. You are held by the strongest arms in the universe, whether or not you feel it.
Whatever pains or challenges you face today, go knowing that heavenly love embraces you with hugs.