Finding God’s Love Through Ollie’s Eyes

By Leslie Bertucci

So here’s a crazy thought. God the Father delights in us. He’s crazy, head-over-heels in love with us! Check out this verse from Zephaniah 3:17:. “He will take great delight in you . . . he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Can you imagine God gazing at his precious children, so overcome with joy that the heavens resound with his singing?

Neither could I. Then I became a grandmother.

A poignant experience with my grandson Ollie opened my eyes to this phenomenon.

On one of my frequent visits to my daughter Robin and her precious newborn, I walked up to Ollie and got close enough for his 6-week-old eyes to focus on my face. And, for the first time, he recognized me! His face lit up with a big smile, and his whole body quivered with excitement. It was as if he were thinking, “She’s here! That person I love came to see me!”

And my heart melted.

On the ride home, God revealed to me that this is how he feels about his children when we turn our faces to him, when we lift our hearts in prayer or our hands in worship. He thinks, “They’re here! That person I love came to spend time with me!”

Maybe I should allow God’s heart to be melted more often.