His Delight!

It was one of those embarrassing moments reminding me that parts of my life were a disorganized, out-of-control mess.

We had just moved to Hill AFB, UT onto a quiet little cul-de-sac, perfect for a family with young kids. Even though we’d been there several weeks, I still hadn’t found time to meet all our neighbors.

Our twin girls, who were just 2 ½, had a very annoying habit of escaping naked out of the house and running around the neighborhood. Their ability and speed to shed clothes, throw off their cochlear implants, and unlock the front door rivaled Houdini’s. And to make matters worse, there were times I didn’t even notice they had escaped until one of our other kids rescued and returned the wayward duo.

After our family of six had finally settled into our cozy 3-bedroom duplex, on a day I felt organized and relaxed, I set out to meet the rest of our neighbors. I noticed our next door neighbor outside, the wife of one of the more senior officers on the base, so I headed over with our little girls in tow. After a few minutes of friendly conversation, I asked if she’d met our twins. Without missing a beat, she smiled and said, “Well never with their clothes ON.”

Even though I was initially very embarrassed that “the mess that is me” had been uncovered and laid bare (no pun intended!) before someone I didn’t even know, the thing that struck me most powerfully was her warmth and kindness. Amazingly, I didn’t feel the need to explain or justify myself because there wasn’t even a hint of condemnation in her words. Instead I sensed a playful delight in her voice that made me feel safe and welcomed.

When she and her husband moved a few years later, she gave me a small, beautifully framed cross-stitch containing the simple prayer, “God Bless this Home”. We didn’t have the opportunity to spend much time together, but I’ll never forget that on a day I felt embarrassed and exposed, she covered me with grace and acceptance.

As I recall this story, not only am I inspired to cover others with grace rather than expose their shortcomings, I’m also reminded that on a much grander scale, this unconditional love is exactly what we find in relationship with Jesus.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1)

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness … (Isaiah 61:10)

He will take great delight in you … [and] will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

What precious, yet almost incomprehensible truth! Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are: Lavishly loved! Children of God! Clothed and covered with His righteousness! And to top it off, we bring delight and joy to our Savior’s heart!

Even on our worst days – when our failures are front and center, when the selfish bent of our heart is exposed, we remain securely held and covered with the unconditional love and lavish grace of our Lord Jesus.

Lord, my heart is overwhelmed with the truth that You see me, You know me, and yet You delight in me! Thank You Jesus!