“Daaaaaaddy!” The Cry Came Again.

Last week I was spending the night at a lovely apartment that is located on a quiet street with a little lake on the grounds.  It’s always been such a peaceful place and I’m very thankful for it.  I love staying in this place.  On this particular night as I was sleeping soundly in my bed,  I was suddenly awakened by the cry of a child.  

“Daaaaddy!”  I stirred and strained to listen.  The voice came from the apartment upstairs.

“Daaaaady!” The cry came again.  This time I could hear the tears and fears in the call.  Then I heard hard footsteps running down the hall.

“Shuuuuut up!”  An angry voice shouted.  My body froze, breaths were shallow, nerves tight as I lay there stunned at what I was hearing.

The child cried out again and the voice shouted once more, “I said, shuuuut up!  Now!”  Silence.  Fear flooded my senses. I could feel my eyes staring wide into the darkness unable to blink.   After several agonizing seconds that seemed near an eternity, the footsteps returned to the other room.  I heard no more cries but I could not go back to sleep.

I lay there and prayed for the child.  As the minutes passed, my own nerves began to relax from its tension.  My mind wandered to thoughts of my own earthly father.  Never in a million years would my father have shouted at me to shut up.  Never would he have been filled with anger at my call to him.  He would have come quickly to offer comfort.  He would have sought to soothe my fears.  

I realize that there are many in the world who never had a father like mine.  Sadly, there are those who had a father like the one with the heavy footsteps and the angry shouting voice to “shut up!”  Such an angry earthly father could understandably mar one’s feelings toward their spiritual Father.

To those reading this, did you have a kind and protecting father or did you have an angry father that made you afraid to call to him for help.  If your experience with your earthly father was a negative one, may I encourage you that Almighty God is a Father of perfect love, at all times, and He invites you to call to Him at anytime.  Are you afraid?  Call.  Are you lonely?  Call.  Never hesitate.  Call.  He is on the ready to come to you.

He gave a beautiful promise to us in Psalm 91:15, “When they call on me I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.  I will rescue and honor them.”  

Never forget, whatever your experience with your earthly parents, your Heavenly Father is always there for you, holding your best interests in His heart — always!  Please call.  He will come.