In the 6 1/2 years Phillip and I have been married we have only been to the beach a handful of times. Since having kids we’ve only been twice, the second time being this past Sunday.
We only live about 45 minutes away and yes, the cresting water and sandy beaches are breath-taking, it just isn’t really our thing. When I first moved to south Texas from Michigan I thought the beach was exotic and palm trees were beautiful. Now, the feel of sand between my toes, in my clothes and even between my teeth (not sure how it happened, but yes, it was there) is just more trouble than its worth.
But when two insanely cute little girls light up with excitement as they ask you if they can go to the beach one day (after hearing about it from their cousins), we were just too weak to resist.
Really, we would have taken them sooner, but they’ve never shown interest until now (could it be they didn’t know what a beach was? Surely not…). So we decided to take an after church run down to those sandy shores.
We loved every minute of it.
No, our opinion of being covered in thousands of tiny, crunchy bits of brown stuff hasn’t changed. Our fun didn’t come in the shape of a sandcastle or in the majesty of endless waves.
It came bubbling out of these beautiful faces.
There is something unequivocally contagious about the smile of your child and something even more wonderful when that smile turns into goofy, jump up and down, shrieks of joy.
As parents, we delight in seeing our kids overflowing with joy.
Wait, doesn’t that sound familiar?
Doesn’t God feel the same way towards us?
He desires to give us good things. He wants to pour out blessings, joy and peace onto us because it makes Him happy to do so.
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11
He wants to answer our prayers and fill our lives to overflowing with good things because He delights in His children.God wants to see our eyes light up and our feet lift up off the ground as we rejoice in His goodness.
You may go through times when you feel like this isn’t true. Maybe your finances are spent or your marriage is on the rocks and you just don’t feel like God is pouring out good gifts into your life.
I don’t have all the answers, all I can say is that I know that our Father in Heaven loves us more than we can comprehend and He wants to pour out those blessings in our lives.
Sometimes we just need to turn our eyes on Him and away from the need (read more about making God the only thing you desire here).
Sometimes we just need to go through trials.
Those blessings are there though.
Ask.
Seek.
Knock.
They are there, I promise. Not that my promises matter, but it just so happens that God promises too…
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8
Zinck Family Missions 
I had gotten your blog a couple days ago. I decided not to erase it cuz i hadn’t had time to read it. As i was sitting here thinking of what tomorrow will bring. I saw it again and read tour blog. Its being very hard for me this couple of weeks. But like you wrote stop looking at your need and focus on him. His gift will pour in my life when i stop worrying about what tomorrow will bring. Thanks
Janie,
I’m so glad that what God has put on my heart has helped you as well. I pray right now that your days and weeks get better and that your life would overflow with God’s blessings.
This blessed me 🙂 no greater joy than to know our heavenly father delights in our smiles.. He sings over us! And we so many times miss it… 🙂 thanks for reminding me about that today! I was having a grumpy day until now.. 🙂