I love Lucy.
Not the old TV show, although it had its moments. (Who doesn’t need a dose of Fred and Ethel Mertz now and then, right?)
No, the Lucy who has captured my heart is my newest grandchild, Lucy Marie Crum, who very recently made her grand entrance into this world.
Yes, here I go again, writing about my grandkids.
Sorry, but I simply have to because Lucy’s arrival is big news in my little universe.
This scrumptiously dimpled little beauty is the first child of my youngest son and his wife. There is only one thing about baby Lucy that isn’t perfect, as far this grandma is concerned: the fact that she is 3,000 miles away.
Lucy is a California baby, born in the heart of Silicon Valley, where I hear babies arrive clutching sterling silver iPhones in their little hands. (Okay, maybe not.)
I love everything about this child I have yet to meet, except just that—that I haven’t gotten to meet her yet.
Happily, Lucy will be bringing her parents here for a visit at Christmas, but I already know that’s not going to be enough for doting Gram and Pappy. Not even close.
I shamelessly admit, out loud and often, that I am selfish enough to want Andy and his family to move back here, even though I know this California adventure was a great career move and an answer to prayer for my son. (Note to self: Next time be WAY more specific when praying for loved ones to find jobs. Think, “location, location, location.”)
My parting words to Andy and Janine were, “Don’t you be having my grandkids way out there in California.”
Nobody ever listens to me.
I simply cannot pretend to enjoy having my son, his wife and their squeezable, kissable, perfect baby living on the other side of the continent, and I express my angst to God fairly regularly.
I was doing that again the other day and in the midst of my whining, it suddenly occurred to me that God understands exactly how I feel about all of this because He probably feels the same way about His kids.
He longs for us to be where He is.
Many of today’s headlines have generated a buzz about what many Bible scholars believe are prophetic, “end-times” Scriptures being fulfilled in our lifetime. Regardless of what you believe or don’t believe about the second coming of Christ, the real heart of the matter is this: God loves His kids and wants us to be with Him forever in a perfect world.
I really get that now. I miss my son and his family so much my heart literally aches sometimes.
While we certainly can’t presume to completely understand God’s heart and mind beyond what He’s chosen to reveal to us in the Bible, it’s pretty clear that He longs and plans to gather all His kids home, when the time is right.
So, who are “God’s children”?
Scripture makes it pretty clear: “
We’re all invited to join His family. It’s a right some receive, but many refuse.
Whatever your decision, please consider that this broken world is as close to heaven as unbelievers will ever get, and as close to hell as believers will ever get.
That’s worth pondering.
I don’t understand the redeeming love, grace and mercy of God, but I believe it, embrace it, and rejoice in it.
And while I don’t know exactly how His ultimate homecoming plan is going to go down, this I do know: I wouldn’t miss it for the world.