You’ve gotta love a place that caters to kids in a way adults can enjoy.
I was at Chick-fil-a with Heather, the girls and Ryken the other night.
A little circus in a very small, contained space.
Isley could barely contain herself. She wanted her face painted and a balloon animal. Eating wasn’t the focus.
Ryken was watching everything. He saw the balloons, and his eyes grew in appreciation. He looked at kids with their faces painted like animals and laughed.
And then he saw him.
Isley, undeterred by size or species, walked up and high-fived him. She had already gotten her face painted as a tiger, so tiny tiger meeting giant cow seemed appropriate. She made a few comments, which the cow was unable to respond to, and went on her way.
Ryken had seen him from a distance, and his face lit up. He pointed, kept saying, “Moo”, and seemed genuinely eager to have a close encounter of a personal kind.
Joy segued to concern to terror to tears. Quickly.
The cow got it. Waved kindly. Mooooved on. (Had to do that.)
As soon as the cow put distance between him and us, Ryken’s tears dried. He grinned. Pointed at the cow. “Moo.”
He didn’t know what to think of the cow. He wasn’t comfortable with him because he didn’t know him. But part of him wanted to high five him just like his sister had.
There are times when I treat God like that.
I remember how He’s worked in my life, on my behalf. I see what He’s doing in the lives of others. I want to be closer to Him and trust Him more fully.
And I wonder when the other shoe will drop. When things others are experiencing will happen to me.
I become afraid. Of what He might choose to do. To grow me up.
Growing up becomes fearful.
Then I’m reminded.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” I John 4:18a
We fear because we can’t control life. Circumstances. Other people.
We may be enamored with knowing God because of what we think He will do for us.
I choose how I live each day. If I choose to engage God, He gives me what I need to deal with the circumstances over which I have no control.
I don’t have to fear that He’s setting me up for failure or pain. Those things will happen, but God walks with me through it.
I don’t have to be afraid of His motivation. It’s to love and protect. Me.
Ryken? He doesn’t have to fear the cow.
Buddy, invite the cow to stay.