When Joshua was a baby, it was like clockwork. At seven o'clock in the morning I knew at any moment I was going to hear a little boy calling. Sometimes he cried, sometimes he jabbered away, but always he let us know, "I'm awake, come and get me."
    When I walk into the room his eyes light up and he smiles. He gets excited and begins crawling to the edge of the crib and then he pulls himself into a standing position and holds his arms out to me. His little boy smile shines as he says, "Up, up, up, up, up, up!" I love that little boy.

    Five o'clock in the afternoon and I'm trudging up the walk with my briefcase in hand, stopping off at the house for a bite to eat before I finish the day's work. I open the door and step inside, and across the room I hear a thump, thump, thump, thump of a little boy who is crawling as fast as he can to see his "Dada." He finally makes it to my ankles and pulls himself up by my pant legs. He throws his head back as far as he can and looks up and says, "Up, up, up, up!" I love that little boy.

    I look at Joshua now, and even though he occasionally cries and fusses and still makes a mess, I love him to pieces. Laurella and I enjoy the blessing that he brings to our family.

    I can only imagine how God feels about us. The Bible tells us that we are His children. He loves us with a perfect love.   A love stronger than any parent has for their child. That truly is an amazing love.

     It makes me want to walk outside and hold my arms up and say "Up, up, up! Pick me up God." The Bible tells us that is exactly what God wants to do. In fact He is planning to do just that.

     John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 "And where I go you know, and the way you know."