I pass by a small child, with a deliciously drippy ice cream cone in her hand on a sweltering hot day. What joy she must be feeling in that moment! How satisfying! How sweet! How refreshing!
Just as she really starts enjoying her cool treat, the ice cream suddenly falls off the cone and lands in a messy, melty puddle at her feet. The little girl melts down beside the mess, in her own puddle of tears. Oh, how she grieves the loss of her delicious dream! Sure, she still has a crunchy cone to munch on, but it’s just not the same without the ice cream.
As she dejectedly sits next to her rapidly-dissolving dessert, she looks up to see her father in the distance, coming with a freshly-scooped, brand-new ice cream cone. “Could it be?” she thinks. “Will I really get another chance? Will it even be as good as before?” She remembers that her father delights to give good gifts to his children, so, as he comes closer, she begins to allow herself to dream again. Her heart leaps as she wipes away her tears, eagerly awaiting the restoration of her loss.
The child salivates as she anticipates all of the flavors she is about to experience, and as he approaches, an expectant smile lights up her face.
Except, her father passes her by and hands the treasure to another child. She wilts. The pain and betrayal in her eyes is almost too much to bear.
I am compelled to drop to my knees beside this precious girl and speak these gentle truths into her life:
“Oh, sweet child, I know it hurts.
Please don’t grow angry; please don’t despair; please don’t doubt your father.
I know him. He hasn’t forgotten you. He hasn’t overlooked you. He hasn’t rejected you.
Trust his love. Trust his goodness. Trust his timing.
He knows the longing of your broken little heart and he, most assuredly, is preparing his absolute best for you.”
As I brush away her tears, I whisper, “Just you wait, precious one. It’ll be worth it!”
And suddenly, from my knees, I hear similar words whispered to my own wilting, waiting heart:
“Just wait, Audra. Don’t grow weary; Don’t despair; Don’t doubt your Father. You know He knows best. He hasn’t forgotten you.
Trust His love. Trust His goodness. Trust His timing. I know Him. He delights to give good gifts to His children. He knows the longing of your broken little heart and He, most assuredly, is preparing His absolute best for you.
And when He brings it, you will be so glad you didn’t settle for anything else. Wait on the Father, child. It will be worth it.”
So, I brush away the tears, focus on what’s left of my cone, and whisper back:
“Yes, Jesus, You are worthy of it all!”
Audra Smith, 2024
