We believe that God has created us to love and be loved. And although He desires our love, He never forces it out of us. For love is not truly love if it is not freely given. He gives us the option to choose to love Him, and often times, whether consciously or unconsciously, we choose not to.
This past weekend my family spent the day at the public pool, cooling off from the hot weather. I distinctly remember a father with his three children—two little girls and an little boy with down syndrome. This father did all he could to protect his children, in fact they were probably the safest kids in the pool since they all had life vests on. They had a blast swimming together. But the reason I bring it up is because I remember the youngest of the girls standing at the edge of the pool and the father in the pool with arms outstretched telling her to jump and promising that he would catch her. She had already been in the pool, she knew her father wouldn’t let anything happen to her—and even if he didn’t catch her she had on the life vest so it would be nearly impossible for her to drown. Nevertheless, she didn’t jump.
No Need to Fear, the Father is Here
This scenario spoke to me then and even now. It is a beautiful image of God waiting for us to jump into His arms. His smile comforts us and His promise remains steadfast, yet there is a fear that lingers in the back of our minds. Even though we know that we are protected, that He wouldn’t let anything happen to us, we think twice about the jump.
“Know that I am with you; I will protect you wherever you go.”
~ Genesis 28:15
Perhaps we’ve made the jump before and have experienced the depths of Our Father’s love, but that fear haunts us. For many of us the fear is that of giving up control, of uncertainty. In our culture we tend to want to control everything, to have everything planned out, but God wants us to let go of all of that. Only when we make that leap of faith into His arms can He take us where He wants us to go.
“My poor child, how short this life on earth is! It is always an unfinished symphony. Do you realize your home is elsewhere? Why do you continue to cling to the things of the earth? The other life is tomorrow. Are you not longing to see Me? To know Me better? Ask Me for this desire. I can give you everything you lack. You don’t ask. Above all do not be afraid of wearying Me or annoying Me. You are my little child. Nothing that concerns you ever tires Me….Don’t be afraid then. Just ask. Yearn for Me and thank Love. Call yourself: God’s little child…it will give you a new feeling.”
~ Our Lord to Gabrielle Bossis, “He and I”
The choice is yours. Everyday is a memorial of the freedom God has granted us. Let us choose to love. Let us choose to let go and let God. Set aside your fears and take that leap of faith into the Father’s arms.