When JaCK CAME RUNNING

A few days ago I took our dog, Jack, to one of his favorite parks. It has wide open spaces to run fast and far. We were meandering along when Jack spots several dogs ahead playing chase. I knew what would happen as soon as I saw that Jack had seen the game going on. He took off at great speed. In moments, after doggie greetings took place, Jack was zooming with the rest of them. What a happy sight. I just stood for several minutes smiling at this great display of happiness.

Suddenly, Jack stops in his tracks and looks around. He sees me and comes running in sheer joy. His mouth was open, tongue lolling out to one side, ears straight back in the wind. As he came closer I saw his shining eyes. I knelt down and spread my arms wide. Jack nearly knocked me backward as he charged into my body with his, rubbing against me. I wrapped my arms around him and said, “what a sweet boy.” After a few moments of this loving display I stood and said, “want to go back and play?” I headed toward the group of dogs still playing chase, and Jack happily zoomed ahead to rejoin the game. I was warmed in my heart at his sudden and unexpected display of affection in the midst of his chasing game.

As I continued watching Jack with his friends, I thought of something Jesus said when He was on earth. He was in Jerusalem, lamenting that the people had turned from God. He said, How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me (Matthew 23:37 NLT). A sadness came over me. Jesus longs to wrap His arms around us, to comfort, to guide, to just show love, but we often don’t let Him. We’re busy with the cares of this world. We’re busy doing good things in the church. We’re so busy we have lost desire to stop what we’re doing and run to Him.

I’m so glad Jack stopped what he was doing, just to run to me. What rapturous joy we shared together before he returned to his busyness. If I can be so warmed in my own heart at my dog’s display of affection, how much more is our Heavenly Father blessed when we stop what we are doing to run to Him? Let us take care not to miss the sheer joy of taking time, no matter how busy, just to run into the arms of our Father.