Caden's Cry

A few nights ago I awoke in the middle of the night. As I groggily opened my eyes and glanced at my clock, it read 1:15 am. In the silence I wondered, what woke me up. Then I heard it... a muffled screaming. It was somewhere in my house. This is not totally unusual for us, with two boys under our roof - one is two the other is one.
The screaming did not subside and my daddy ears kicked into action to decipher the two-year-old scream of "DAAA-DAAA". My son had singled me out for this middle of the night interruption. I slowly made my way out of bed and towards his bedroom door. His voice became clearer and clearer, "DAAAADDDYY - I NEEEED SOOMETHING."

I turned the door knob and creaked the door open. I peeked in to see him standing up in his bed, crying crocodile tears. He leaned his head back and cried up the the ceiling, "DAAA-DAAA". I opened the door wider and he noticed my presence. As I approached, he reached out for me through the dark night. I lifted him up and as he wrapped his legs around me with a full body embrace and placed his head restfully on my shoulder he continued..." I need milk."
The image of him standing and literally crying out for help to quench his midnight thirst stuck with me. It reminds me of Jesus words, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6) My two-year-old realized his thirst and his own inability to quench it alone. (quick parenting safety tip: we lock him in his room at night so he won't escape). He needed help...and he knew who he could turn to...his Father. So with all the power within him he cried out for help. He cared not what time of the night or how it might affect his younger brother's sleep. He cared not how his mother might feel. He knew his need and sought help.

What a lesson that is for me. Do I realize my need for righteousness is greater than I can ever perform? Am I thirsting for righteousness like my son thirsts for milk? Do I cry out to my Father for help, knowing my need and not really caring about how others will view my desperation? Jesus promised satisfaction to the soul thirst for acceptance if we will just cry out to him. He offers the provision and acceptance of a Father if we will only cry out to him, realizing our need. Lord, help me to grope for you like Caden's cry.

smile!

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