I want to retell a story told from a man who was retelling a story (with a few of my own embellishments thrown in for good measure!)…
There was a man who was having a rough day. In the busyness of life, many things had gone wrong and he was looking forward to getting home and relaxing. Upon his arrival though, his puppy had other plans. At the sound of the car door closing, Puppy was there dropping the tennis ball at his feet for a rousing game of fetch. “Oh, Puppy, not today. Today has been hard. I just want to hold you.” This was met with Puppy nudging the ball a little closer with expectant eyes as to where the ball would be thrown. “No, Puppy. I don’t want to play. I just want to hold you. I just want to love you. Okay?” A third time this happened and as the man pleaded with Puppy “I juuuuust want to looooooooove you!!!” it was as if he heard the voice of God crying out the same…
“I just one to love you. You want to be doing, doing, doing – even sometimes for Me. But, ultimately, I just want to love you.”
Then, the man who I heard telling this story asked the listeners to think of our favorite place. A place where we feel peace. A place where we feel comfort. A place where we can just relax. Just be. Then, he asked us to imagine Jesus was there. What was He doing? What was He saying? We imagined what that would be like.
Ok, this could be where it could get a little weird to you…
I love a good nap – especially after a busy or stressful week. So, for me, I pictured my comfy bed with a fort full of pillows around me. I pictured Jesus sitting up, resting against the headboard and inviting me to lean against Him as He lovingly wrapped me in His arms. I’ve also never been married, but I picture a scenario like this at the end of the day. A time to just lean against my husband – maybe talking about the issues of the day, maybe dreaming about the future, maybe saying nothing at all. Just BEing.
In that moment Jesus reminded me, “I am your first love. I am more than enough. I am all you could ever need. No matter what life brings you – or what life throws at you, you can rest in the assurance of My arms.”
Do you ever find yourself running, running, running with no time to hit the “pause” button on life and just BE?
What thing or things are you wrestling with on your own that God might want to tackle with you – or for you?
Where is your peaceful place? If Jesus were there with you physically, spending time with you, talking with you, listening to you…what would that look like?
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
