I wanted to write, so I asked, “God, what do you want me me to say?”  Turns out, I don’t think He wants me to say anything just yet but rather to listen.  He wants me, body and soul, to hear this and to believe Him.

—–

My dear,

I have examined your heart and know everything about you.  I know when you sit down and stand up.  I know what you think about when you are on the move and when you rest in your sixth-floor cubby hole.  I know everything you are going to do and what you are going to say even before you say it.  Now although you cannot see where you are going, I can and I promise to go before you and lead you with my sovereign hand.  I will continue to follow you as well, slathering all of your whoopsy-daisies with grace and working what you see as “loose ends” to your good and for my glory.

I tousle your hair with my hand and place a tiara of blessings upon your head.  You couldn’t possibly understand how much those jewels on your head are worth…and how many more beautifully decadent pieces I want to adorn you with.  My beloved and crowned one, I will always want to bless you more than you are willing to let me.  I love you so very much, and you can never ever change that.  Even if you go up or down or wake up early or go far out to sea or wrap yourself in darkness, you can never hide nor venture too far from my love, no matter how hard you try or how badly you think you have messed up.

I know you, Malia.  I am for you and with you, guiding and supporting, going before and behind, for it is I who crafted you.  I purposefully designed every detail about you from the one dimple on your right cheek all the way down to the way your toes wrap under when you point your feet.  I carefully chose each strand of your introverted personality, your adventurous spirit, and your artistic soul and knit you together so wonderfully and complex!  Even when you were being formed in darkness and utter seclusion, I saw you.  I see you now and all the rest of the days you have before you.

Yes, how you have tasted and seen that I am good!  Still, you can’t even begin to imagine how much more I want to do!  You couldn’t even pray a prayer big enough for the abundance that I am going to pour out on you.  Get ready, my dear, for goodness and mercy will follow you in full force all the days of your life, and you will indeed see me while you are in the land of the living and will know that I am God and God alone.  You will know that I am the one who formed you and who loves you, like no one else can.  You will know that the thoughts I have toward you are infinite in number and wholly good and pure and best.

Therefore, since I have charged myself with responsibility for your eternal happiness, I will continue to search you and your heart.  I will test you that you may develop character and desire righteousness, and I will point out your anxious thoughts that you might leave them with me.  As your Father, I don’t want you to carry any shame, guilt or unnecessary burdens that I already paid for.  There’s far too much that I want you to say and to do, too many places where I want you to go and too many people I want you to meet and do life with.  You don’t have time for anything that’s not from me.  Trust me, Malia.  *With my goodness to desire your highest welfare, my wisdom to plan it, and my power to achieve it, what do you lack?  Surely, my child, you are my most favored in all of creation.

With so much more love than you will ever know,

Dad.