“I just want you to trust me that it’s okay.”  It’s an act of deep grace that returns us to the same lesson again and again, Him unwilling for His beloved to remain bound. He teaches so gently, letting me learn by doing, each time the lesson presented freshly, in an image, perhaps, or a nudge, or this gift-story from the pen of a friend.

“One morning in late December while Vivian was visiting, she climbed up on a chair to join me as I kneaded dough for a post-Christmas bread. Eager to join me in what I was doing, she plunged right into the dough. Then she scowled. What is this? What is Grandma doing? Puzzled by her sticky hands and flour everywhere, unsure of the purpose, she looked up at me, hands held out for help. I just smiled at her with delight, thrilled that she came to be with me and be a part of what I was doing. Reflecting my joy, she smiled back! And then she leaned. She leaned hard into me, and put her hands to the dough again.” (Libby Little, used with permission)

Lean in with me, will you? Hold out sticky hands and questioning hearts for help. Look long at Him smiling at us with delight until we can smile back and lean hard and plunge our hands with joy into what He is doing.

“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15)