Thursday, June 2, 2011

Poor Memory!

Psalm 103

New International Version (NIV)
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
   slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
   nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
   or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
   so great is his love for those who fear him; 
12 as far as the east is from the west,
   so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
 13 As a father has compassion on his children,
   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,
   he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
   they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
   and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
   the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
   and his righteousness with their children’s children— 

I love my girls. McKenzie, Lindsae, and Kelley are wonderful daughters. I can't remember a time when I wasn't proud of them. I am sure there were times, but I can't remember them. As I watch them build there own families or make their own way in this world, I have nothing but pride.

I never really thought of this verse in the way I think about my daughters. But, I can get some sense of how God feels about us when I think about my daughters. I am sure when they were growing up, I was mad at them from time to time. I had to punish them for not following the rules. They aren't angels and never have been. But, just like God, I have completely forgotten about those times.  Oh I can vaguely remember driving down the Sawmill Parkway in New York and threatening to pull over if they didn't stop fighting in the back seat of the car. It was on this occasion, I actually followed through with the threat. I don't even remember what they were doing so bad. Now, I only remember the comical side of this event.  I truly don't remember our arguments, I don't remember my anger with them. 

God has promised to do the same thing with us. He really doesn't remember our confessed sin. He has only pride for us and his Love is the only thing he remembers. The same love and admiration I have for my kids can be magnified 100 fold in terms of God's Love for us. Being a Dad I can relate to that special love he has for his children. Praise God!

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