There I stood, waving out my living room window at nobody. I wondered what the neighbors would think if they happened to glance out their window at that exact moment.
You see, every weekday morning begins the same way: I rise early, make my coffee and sit down to soak up just a moment of Scripture before the chaos begins. Sometimes I’m alone, with Jesus, sharing my worries from the night before and my hopes for the day to come.
However, I’m often interrupted by the sound of my five-year-old’s little feet slowly descending the stairs. She comes to me, quietly resting in the warmth of my side, before sharing with me her worries from that night, and pouring out her hopes for the day to come.
It ends too soon and then we scramble.
I serve breakfast, check the hot lunch menu (wishing that my kids would eat today’s meal . . . no such luck). I remind them to keep eating, and then I make lunches. I beg them to talk quieter so as to not wake the baby, remind them again to keep chewing, then brushing, dressing, and tying. Every day looks like the same little dance.
It’s over before I know it, but it somehow seems to last forever.
As I bundle them up in their coats before they head off to school with their daddy, that same little five-year-old turns to me, as she does every single day, and says, “Give a kiss to Amelia for me, and don’t forget to wave out the window.” I assure her with an, “I promise.”
So every single morning, I stand in front of our living room window as the garage door closes and they back out of the driveway. I wave to my little family, praying for their safety and thanking God they are mine. I wave until the car is completely out of sight.
Most days, I see those little hands waving back at me as her eyes search the window to find mine. But there are many days I don’t.
I know this, but still, I do what I said I was going to do. I stand there, like a crazy person, waving at nobody.
You see, they forgot about me. In their excitement, conversation, song picking, seat belt situating and planning for their day, they forgot I was there.
This particular morning it dawned on me:
We meet the reckless love and faithfulness of the Father when our hearts are ready and turned toward Him. We snuggle up close, speak freely and connect. When the house is still, I ask Him to be with me as I go about my day. But as the day starts and I’m swept into the routine, with the joys and the stressors, I forget. I get lost in what I’m doing and I miss those opportunities to see His face.
I picture Him, standing in the window, jumping up and down, flailing both arms, like a crazy person, saying, “I’m still here, just like I promised. Look this way and you’ll see I’m with you.”
I wonder if my kids remember it differently. Do they go about their day believing that because they didn’t see me, I wasn’t there? How easy it is for us to assume that God isn’t near when in fact, it is us who forget to look up.
“You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! (Psalm 139:5-7)
I often find myself racing through my day in my own strength, forgetting He’s exactly where I asked Him to be, where He said He would be.
How sweet is the truth that His presence is inescapable. He’s promised to be the first to arrive and the last to leave. We can lean on His faithfulness to follow through. In the joy and the chaos He is near. Let’s not forget to look up!
by Rachelle Crawford
Rachelle Crawford
I think of this sometimes when I’m waving goodbye to my own towering boys.
And then I remember Isaiah 30 and the words about how God waits on high to have compassion on us (words written during a time of Israel’s rebellion and turning away) and I’m grateful for God’s unwavering attention to me.
Thank you, Rachelle, for sharing this parable from your own beautiful mothering life.
“I’m grateful for God’s unwavering attention to me.” Love that! Thank you.
What a great example of what we experience as parents, mothers is just what Hod experiences with us. Thank you for the reminder to look up and check in that God is right there where I asked him to be xx
#God not Hod!! Predictive text on my phone – sorry
It’s so easy to forget sometimes isn’t it? Thanks for reading!
Rachelle,
This is beautiful….and such a poignant reminder that God is always there – waving from the window – while we frantically go about our business. I have a “secret” nod I give to God when I am just really aware of his presence. I touch my heart, then I touch my lips, and then I point one finger, arm raised, up to God and I usually say, “Love You Lord”. If I was truly aware of His constant presence, my arm would be getting an aerobic workout. Your post has me thinking that I need to go beyond just thanking him in the wonderful “wow” moments, but even when tears are running and He is ever present then. Thank you for an image I will keep in my head of God waving to me from the window, and may I remember to look toward Him.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Thank you. Finding little tangible reminders throughout our day can help us realign our focus on His closeness no matter what is going on. Love the idea of a “secret nod!”
Such a sweet reminder of God’s presence in our lives. Thank you!
Love this.
This message resonates so beautifully in my heart this morning, that God’s presence is always with us and that He is with us to start our day and go with us all through the day. Every day and every kind of day!
Well said!
Thank you…i am a very visual person i loved the way you described Jesus that he is still there just like he promised.
God nudges us every day! I take notice, and thank him for his guidance. Your article is a good reminder that He is always there to lend a helping hand, nurturing us every step of the way. What is impressive is that He does it for all of us! So glad you have this opportunity to write for this community. Wonderful, creative thoughts!
Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words!
Great devotion!! Wonderful analogy that struck a chord in my heart. Many thanks to you for sharing!
This is awesome. I love getting reminders from Him that He is always near, whether I forget Him or not. Thank you for this ❤️
Well said! Thanks for sharing your world and pointing us back to God!
Great reminder for me today. I had a very stressful morning, and this was calming and convicting.
Thank you God! Thank you Rachelle for this message just when I needed it!
You are related to me! I am Doris Marzean Hodgkin’s daughter, Evelyn Brunette Marzean’s Granddaughter and Leah LaCross Brunette’s Great Granddaughter! Bless you for your love of God and for sharing your message! Our girls are now 18 and 22 and not so long ago I was waving goodbye to them as they went about their day! Now I wave when Madeline goes to MSU and to Katherine as she travels to Hawaii to be with Michael in the Army.
Michelle Hodgkin Elliott
(I love God and I love to write too❤️)
Hello Rachelle,
Just want to let you know I loved your message today. God bless you and have a lovely day!
I so appreciate that. Thank you!
Love these words, Rachelle! Yes, what a sweet truth it is that God is always near, always waiting, always available for us to turn our eyes and hearts to Him. Thanks so much for sharing today at (in)courage!
Rachelle,
Your post goes hand in hand with my song for tomorrow-In His Eyes by Stephen C. Chapman. The chorus sums it up best “His eyes never closes sleep-no matter where you go you will always be in His eyes”. He is always watching over us. He’s the patient father waiting to speak to us & listen to our prayers. We get so busy in our daily lives that we hardly give a thought to Him. We need to remember that He is waiting for us. We can do breath prayers to have a conversation with Him. He loves it when we spend time with Him & His word. After all He gave us His son!! Let’s all wave hello to Jesus!!
Blessings 🙂
Rachelle,
I took in every word and enjoyed every bit of it. Thank-you for reminding us of the Lord’s presence. I also like to awknowlege Him with thanks.
Blessings to all,
Penny
How can I put my photo on here?
Karen, at the top right of the Webpage, click on Sign In. This will take you to a place where you can set up an (in)courage account and upload a photo. 🙂
Rachelle! Sister! How much I love this: “How easy it is for us to assume that God isn’t near when in fact, it is us who forget to look up.” Beautifully worded. Look up sometimes is the theme of my life. Learning to enjoy His grace. Grateful I stopped by today. Thank you for your post.
Thank you for reminding us again, we have a loving, caring Father that wants nothing more than to be there for us. This is so beautiful. As I sit here with tears thinking of the picture you have painted, I hope I will be more aware of independent and more aware of how much I need Him.
Thank you for your wonderful reminder of how we need to be living every moment of our lives. Bless you and your beautiful soul.
Great reminder Rachelle! Such a good read.
Rachelle,
This is beautifully written and so very true. Thank you for reminding of God’s ever present love.
I plan to share this with my bible study friends.
Thank you again!
Rene’
I get those little messages that people are waving at me, sometimes they are annoying. I’m glad God is.
Yes!!!