Thursday thoughts: Heart smiles

I don't know about you, but there is just something special about watching your children and grandchildren do something they love. In the last few days, we have watched one granddaughter play in a softball tournament and another granddaughter's chorus concert. They both love their respective activities, and you can tell it by the enthusiasm and joy while they are performing.

Growing up, my children were involved in basketball, baseball, cheerleading, and many other activities. My grandchildren are involved in theater, chorus, dance, tennis, and many other things. I may not understand all the ins and outs or rules of the sport they are involved in, but I do know one thing: I LOVE watching them do what they enjoy and use the talent God gave them.

What they do makes them happy, and in turn that makes me happy. When they are happy, my heart smiles. Wayne and I go to their activities and cheer wildly and clap loudly - not because they did everything perfectly, but because they are ours. Their joy brings us joy. Their excitement and enthusiasm light up our eyes and bring a smile to our hearts.

I just have to wonder if these feelings of joy and heart smiles might be a little glimpse of how God feels when He looks at us. In Psalms 149:4 the Bible says, "God delights in His people." It's a staggering thought to ponder: the God of the universe takes DELIGHT in me. The word "delight" means it's a deep, affectionate joy.

God desires and rejoices in a personal relationship with us. I have to believe that God also is delighted when we are kind to a stranger, love others despite their shortcomings, use our time and energy to bless others, forgive when it's not easy, encourage those around us, and worship Him with a thankful heart. Whenever we do something that reflects God and His character, I think He is delighted.

As a parent or grandparent, our hearts smile when we watch our children and grandchildren do what they love. Can you imagine the delight and joy of our Heavenly Father when He sees His children walking with Him and doing the things that bring Him glory? Here is the most wonderful thing - our love for our children and grandchildren is not based on how well they perform. We go to watch and encourage because we DO love them. In the same way, we don't earn God's love by performing or being perfect. He loved us first before we ever did a thing. 1 John 4:19 says, "We love because He first loved us."

Because of His love, we can live joyfully for Him. Our children and grandchildren can make our hearts smile. We have daily opportunities to make God smile. He sees everything, hears every prayer, knows our faults, sees our motives, feels our hurts, loves us unconditionally, and delights in us because we are His children.

The same is true with our children and grandchildren. We love them when they strike out. We love them if they make an error. We love them if they sing a wrong note or forget a line. We love them for who they are, and because of that our hearts smile. I pray we can all be mindful of the fact that God loves us. He watches over us with a heart full of love.

I like to believe God is wildly cheering us on and clapping loudly because He loves us and we make His heart smile. "The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy," Zephaniah 3:17.

___