Emily Hawkins
About the Author

Emily is a writer, wife, and mama of a spirited child. She blogs and dreams in lovely Seattle.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Emily,
    I love this! It’s a message that never gets old for desperate ears to hear. I love the image I get of you scooping your daughter up in your arms – in all her frantic, spirited messiness. That’s just what God wants to do with us….scoop us up in His strong and loving arms and love on us awhile. I think Jesus knew what He was doing when He simplified the gospel to two principles….Love the Lord your God. When we love Him with all our heart, strength, soul, and mind….when we seek Him, He loves us JUST AS WE ARE. He pours out an unfathomable grace and love that then enables us to Love others as we, ourselves, are loved. It’s pretty simple, but we can’t get to Part II unless we pass through Part I – seeking Him and experiencing His grace and love beyond measure. You described this interaction beautifully!!
    Blessings,
    Bev

  2. Thank you Emily for sharing this story . Today’s message felt like it was written just for me today. I praise God for indeed His grace is enough. What a beautiful reminder that we need to come just as we are. I can’t wait for my daughter to wake up from her nap to embrace her and kiss her face.

    • Dear Annari,

      Thank *you* for sharing. What a good God we serve that He gives us each other to help remember His grace. I am grateful you shared with me, and I hope those were the most delightful kisses!

  3. So needed this today! Some days more than others it is especially nice to hear from a Mom who can relate! Thank you!

  4. As I read you post an old hymn came to mind. One of the lines “Just as I am without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me
    And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee Oh lamb of God I come I come”

  5. Such a powerful message. In our hurried world, we forgot our Father is always busy! But He also is ALWAYS patiently awaiting our needs. I will never forget your vivid illustration. Blessings ~

  6. Thank you emily for your life breathing words. I am in the midst of walking along side my teenage daughter who is battling depression. There are good days and messy days as you said. Thank you for reminding me that i need always look to the Father for his abounding grace to speak. She is not the toddler but the teenager who is struggling, the the response is to be the same. Thank you!

    • You are so welcome, Carolyn. As a formerly depressed teenager, you are giving your child such a gift in your loving presence. You are so right. Love, grace, mercy. We can always look to the way God loves to help us. Prayers for your journey!

  7. Thank you so much. Perfect for me today and much needed. Changed by grace. You worded it perfectly. No matter how many times we cry out and in our need, He is ready with His grace.

  8. Emily,

    Our God is a come-as-you-are messy & desperate loving God. He wants us to come and experience ALL He has for us-grace, love & mercy. I praise God for that. January 2016 was a “messy” time for me. My aging dad’s dementia had worsened and he was hospitalized. I cried out to God to take him home-this isn’t living. I couldn’t stand to see my dad like that. God heard me, but had other plans. He healed my dad and showed me a true miracle. Now my faith is full and I’m sharing God with everyone I can. I visit my dad at the assisted living and give hugs and smiles to the other residents. Wanting them to experience as much of God as they can.

    Blessings 🙂

    • Thank you for sharing, Beth! What a beautiful, awesome story. It sounds like you are able to spread God’s love to others who could use His joy. Thank you for taking the time to read and share here!

  9. I am so thankful our God is a come as you are God. I can wear my pajamas and approach him with bed hair and tired eyes and a bad attitude and he is there for me.

  10. Oh my goodness- how I needed this today. God spoke straight to my heart through your post this morning. We have had a lot of turmoil in our home as well recently, and have seen our son acting out at school and our daughter at home. My husband and I have been struggling with how to handle it. We had a conversation just last night about it, both understanding that we needed to change our approach and praying that God would show us how. The Holy Spirit convicted me through your words, “I’m quick to address her behavior before addressing her.” This has been our response too, but it’s not what God models for us as our Parent. “His love is extended to us before anything else.” This is how He wants us to respond to our children in their misbehavior and their mess, just how He responds to us in ours. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this reminder.

    • Alyssa, Your words warmed my heart! I am so glad God used this to speak to you. I find that as a parent, it can be so challenging to hear all of the messages about how to parent “correctly.” I am so thankful our God listens and speaks. He hears us when our hearts are heavy because of parenting and life, and He offers us His wisdom for His (our!) children. Every time I come back to His wisdom and His heart for my daughter, I am moved and I have a deep peace about our actions as her parents. Blessings and love to you on this journey! Thank you for sharing today.

  11. Beautiful Em. Such a sweet reminder! Parenting 5 over here and the amount of times God corrects me in my correcting them is embarrassing but SO kind and helpful. Thanks for writing down your heart!
    Jenny