“Happily Ever After” – the stuff of fairy tales? Maybe “Happily Ever After” is living fully as Daughter of the King, knowing whose we are, knowing how He sees us – and knowing that whatever the challenge, no matter the challenge’s bigness or littleness, no matter the pain of walking through it. . .
My Dad’s going to make sure I know He’s there,
My Dad sees me, even when I’m hiding, misbehaving, or crying in the closet,
A refuge, my Dad tucks me under his wing when the challenges threaten to beat me up. Yeah! My Dad has wings!
My prayers whether whispered, written in small handwriting, or spoken awkwardly? My Dad listens intently anytime, anyplace, for any reason – and He always answers in His Best time in ways I never imagined.
My Dad meets me when I call out to Him. Always! I never have to wait on Him, though, sadly, I often make him wait.
My Dad shepherds me on the paths I need to take – and teaches me to walk those paths with a heart for forgiveness.
When I’m crushed or broken-hearted, my Dad doesn’t just come alongside – He makes sure I am not crushed.
My Dad shows me how to love my brothers and sisters – and the ones who don’t know He’s their Dad.
Maybe that is the Happily Ever After in the Fairy Tales. Maybe it is the story with the redeemer Father taking care of His daughter after saving her. The challenges don’t change because that is life this side of heaven – but who I go through the challenges with – That is the Happily Ever After, the hope, the faith, the Father-God in it.
My God who made himself known to me became My Father who made himself known to me.
My Dad loves it when I come to him, am honest with Him about my struggles, with how I feel in the struggle, with my confusion sometimes in trying to understand Him or His plan – He loves it because until I’m honest to Him about how I feel, He really cannot begin the process of fixing the broken places. I am so glad I told Him.
I am my Dad’s beloved daughter – wanted, planned for – and one day, I will hear Him say the name He picked out for me.
My Dad told me He had a whole healthy girl for me.
All the while, He meant me.
He means, you, too.
Part I: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: A Broken Daughter
Part II: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: God Becoming Father
Part III: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: Learning to Live as Beloved Daughter
Linking with these blogs this week:
Trekking Through – http://www.trekkingthru.com/
http://www.richfaithrising.com/ Unite the Bloggosphere
http://purposefulfaith.com/ Cheerleading #RaRaLinkUp
http://www.messymarriage.com/ Messy Marriage
Mary Geisen/ TellingHisStory
Inspire Me Monday, Literary Musing Mondays, Purposeful Faith, Tell His Story, Recharge Wednesday, Porch Stories Linkup, Welcome Heart, Worth Beyond Rubies Wednesday, Encouraging Word Wednesday, Sitting Among Friends, Destination Inspiration, Tune in Thursday, Heart Encouragement, Moments of Hope, Faith and Friends, Faith on Fire Friday, Fresh Market Friday, and DanceWithJesusFriday
[…] Part I: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: A Broken Daughter Part II: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: God Becoming Father Part III: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: Learning to Live as Beloved Daughter Part IV: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: A Whole Healthy Daughter […]
[…] Part I: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: A Broken Daughter Part II: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: God Becoming Father Part III: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: Learning to Live as Beloved Daughter Part IV: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: A Whole Healthy Daughter […]
[…] Part I: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: A Broken Daughter Part II: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: God Becoming Father Part III: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: Learning to Live as Beloved Daughter Part IV: Wilt Thou Be Made Whole: A Whole Healthy Daughter […]
[…] written before about how I grew up without the support of a father (here, here, here, and here) – but God that night drove home that He’d be in that waiting room with His girl, His […]