Surprised

I say a lot of things at meal time now that I have kids that I never thought I’d say.  Things like “don’t sing with your mouth full,” of “don’t eat your syrup with a spoon.”  These words come out of your mouth and as a parent you have this weird moment where you can’t believe you have to say those things.  You just thought that kind of instruction was unnecessary. 

I’ve learned a lot about God as a parent.  I see the way I often respond to events in my life like His child, and He has to comfort me the way parents do over a skinned knee or when my daughter has to wait more than 2.5 seconds for juice. 

But in this case, I don’t think God is like me at all.  I don’t think my questions, choices, or concerns take Him by surprise.  I don’t think God looks at my failures and says “Dude, I didn’t expect you to be that messed up.” 

I think God knows all of my hurts, habits, and hang-ups, and yet loves me anyway.  I think He sees all of my insecurities and inadequacies, and rather than be taken by surprise by His need to help me, He already took care of everything I would ever need in advance on the cross.  The cross says “I know you will make mistakes, but I love you just the same, so much so that I am willing to die.”  A lot of people live knowing that God loves them, but they have come to believe that He’s constantly disappointed in them.  I love the fact that my sin doesn’t ever take Him by surprise, and yet while I was a sinner Christ died for me.