It is a quiet evening here with the supper dishes just finished up. The dishwasher is humming from the kitchen while here in the living room, my little, almost-one-year-old fusses for my attention. My husband taps away on his computer, interrupted often by our son. It’s a typical evening for us now. I like it. Last year around this time I was very, very pregnant and very, very uncomfortable, and my husband was away. He was still away when I went into labor, and when I welcomed our son at the hospital. A series of events bordering on the miraculous brought my husband to the hospital two hours afterwards. Four precious days later, I said goodbye on Christmas morning as my husband left to board the plane that took him to Afghanistan. Looking back over this past year while I relax here, watching my husband and my son bond and enjoy each other, I’m happy to be involved in the lives of these two.
But what about God? There were moments this past year where I can honestly say that I forgot about God. There are times now that I forget about Him. My husband’s deployment taught me not to take for granted the moments I have with my husband, but every day, I take for granted my relationship with God. What a tragedy. I don’t know how much more time I have to worship and serve God with my life. I don’t know how much more time I have to be His child here on earth and get to know Him. True, as a Christian, I will have eternity to do that, but do I want to wait until then? Is that right? Is that fair to God?
The longer I’m a Christian, the more I see God as someone who dearly wants to have a relationship with me. He desires to be close to me. His word says, “Come near to God, and He will come near to you” (James 4:8 NIV). He went to incredible lengths, even sacrificed Himself, so He could be friends with me. He shared His words in the Bible so that I might get to know Him. John 15:15-16 is part of a scene where Jesus talks deeply and personally with His disciples, “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you . . .” (NIV). He chose me. He wanted friendship with me. The God of the Universe wanted to be friends, with me.
How sad it must make Him that I forget about Him and ignore Him. Sometimes I even get angry with how He is leading my life and give Him the cold shoulder (I’m not proud of that, but I’m being honest here). He has gone to such great lengths to be involved in my life, to make it possible for me to have a relationship with Him. He doesn’t want to wait until eternity. I didn’t want to wait to have a relationship with my husband until he returned from the deployment. I tried many times to keep our relationship alive while the distance sought to discourage me. But do I go to such great lengths with God? I know the answer, and it’s not positive. I think God is asking for more this year, more for our relationship, more surrender of myself, more of my allowing God to be involved in my life.
Across the room my husband is showing my son how to race cars down a stack of board books. My son is more interested in destroying the race track as he pulls the books apart quite cheerfully. My husband pretends to disapprove, but he is enjoying his time with our son. I’m about to join them, but as I do, I know that I’m going to try to be more purposeful with involving God in my life too. I don’t know how many more days I have to worship, adore, and get to know Him here on earth, and I want to make the most of them.
How about you? Perhaps your relationship with God is at an all-time high. You have my praise and slight envy. Or perhaps you’re like me and need to rededicate. It takes just a few moments to start. God’s walking alongside of you every step of the way. Embrace Him this next year! You will not find a better friend.
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Priscilla Cash is married to an Army National Guard Soldier and Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. She spends much of her time caring for their precious nine month old son, keeping their home running and trying to better her skills as a wife, mother, friend, and follower of Christ. When she’s not engaged in the above, you’ll find her reading, writing, crocheting, and bookmaking.
