Juanito sat in the living room playing with blocks. Juanito was up very early, as usual. His Mommy could count on it and knew that he was usually content to sit playing with his colorful blocks. The boy was already dressed in the work boots, tool belt and ball cap his parents bought him and he often insisted on sleeping in. Juanito was good at building surprisingly complex structures for a 4 year old, and was at it again as he waited patiently for his Daddy to emerge from the bedroom for a very quick play time before Daddy left for work. You see, Daddy was up early everyday like Juanito and had created a regular time with his son to play and pray before he left for work. It was never very long, but it was a time for laughter, questions, kisses, hugs and of course building cooler and higher spires and castles with those colorful blocks.

Just then, Juanito looked up to the hallway where Daddy would emerge because his ears were in tune with the faucet turning off. He knew Daddy was done brushing teeth and would walk out wearing his full carpenter’s work outfit. Daddy was a carpenter and so was Juanito with those boots and so many building blocks. Daddy came around the corner with arms stretched down and Juanito lept up and ran to him and was lifted with a swing into Daddy’s arms. “Let’s play my child.”, said Daddy. With ease they swooped down to the carpet and were both laying on the living room floor gazing at the castle that Juanito had already built. Daddy asked, “Is that the King’s castle?” “Yes Daddy…you know it is.”, said Juanito. “What is the King doing this morning?”, asked Daddy. “Hahahaha…kinging of course Daddy and he is about to go to work just like you do.”, exclaimed the excited boy.

The two played for 15 minutes or so just like every morning and just before he was to leave Daddy prayed with his son holding him tight blessing him and praying that Juanito would be a great man in God’s Kingdom. As they both said “Amen” ….Juanito’s amen was a loud one..almost a singing and yelling song …”AYYYYYYYYMEN!!!!”. Daddy knew what would happen next since it was a regular daily thing.

“Daddy! I want to go with you to work again!! Can I go with you Daddy..please?” Juanito extended his hand desperately reaching upward towards Daddy with hope and expectation that Daddy would say yes… again. Daddy could see the joy, desire and anticipation in his son’s eyes & his heart melted a little bit thinking about holding Juanito’s small hand whenever they were out together. Those times that he let his little carpenter come with him, riding in the truck, picking up supplies, walking and inspecting the work, Juanito had so much fun, asked so many questions and clearly saw himself as, just like Daddy. “Daddy, I just want to go with you!”. Juanito said with a slight tear in his eye, but with rapt determination. Daddy looked down at Juanito with a smile and grabbed his outstretched little hand and scooped Juanito up again in his arms and said, “Yes…my son….you can come with me…” And off they went.

Thoughts: The desire to be in His presence and to know our identity as His children can be seen in the raw desire of a child seeking to be with and like his earthly Daddy. The overwhelming and complete love that our Father has offered us through Jesus and the invitation to walk with Him via the Holy Spirit can also be seen in the true joy that an earthly father exhibits when he spends time with his son and marvels in how much a child trusts and wants to be just like his Daddy.

Romans 8:15 New Living Translation (NLT)
15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.[a] Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”[b]