Here, Daddy. I Love You.

I published this years ago in one of my earlier books. I thought it good to post it here. I hope it encourages you.

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The world asks, “How much does he give?” Christ asks, “Why does he give?”– John Raleigh Mott

We used to hang the small black marble in our family room. It now hangs in my study next to a photo of our three children when they we much, much younger. 

Our son, Nathan, gave it to me when he was five. Until then he’d kept it safe in a corner of his socks drawer. Whenever he left the house, he carried it in his front jeans pocket. 

One morning while I watched television, he marched into the living room clutching his treasure in his fist. 

“Here, daddy.” He opened his hand. 

“What’s this?” 

“I love you,” he answered. 

I switched off the television and stared at the marble. It wasn’t my birthday or any other special day, yet there he was, offering me his special treasure for no other reason than he loved me. 

We’ve lived in nearly a dozen different homes since that day, and in each one, I displayed the marble in a prominent place – not just because it is Nathan’s love-gift to me, but because the simple piece of glass reminds me of a great spiritual lesson: 

Sometimes I struggle with feelings of worthlessness, and I can’t help but wonder how often other Christians think of themselves in the same way. How many think they’re just one of a million insignificant people scurrying to work, to school, to the supermarket? And outside of a small group of family, friends, and acquaintances, no one will ever know – or care – that we lived and died. What can anyone as unimportant as we, offer our Father in heaven? 

There aren't any Biblical texts in which God says, "I will mount your love-offering on my shelf." But I'm convinced our heavenly Father is moved by our willingness to give Him ourselves, king of like as I was when Nathan offered me his treasure. Nor do I doubt God proudly displays to the angels our love-gifts of talents, time, treasures and pleasures – the things some of us jealously hide in the corners of our drawers or carry close in our pockets.

And I do not at all doubt He is well pleased when we open our hands and say to Him, "Here, daddy. I love you."