Tip of My Iceberg

We lived in Wisconsin at the time, and I had planned on being home in time to have our fourth child.

That didn’t work out, and I ended up having our baby in Fort Collins, Colorado. Our Midwestern family now had a mountain girl in our midst.

As she grew up, Courtney promised us she was going to live in Colorado one day. And stay forever.

That became her reality.

Courtney moved to Colorado after college, working in a non-profit, and eventually meeting the man of her dreams. Michael taught Court the wonder of nature, initiating her to the awe of hiking, camping, and all things outdoors.

When their son Beck came along, he immediately became part of their Rocky Mountain adventure. In the beginning, he was hauled around in a backpack. Now he’s reflecting the joy and enthusiasm of his parents for nature.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the famous American poet, coined the phrase, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” in 1839. It’s a picture of Beck as he’s developing his own mountain joy.

As we grow up, many of our parents’ characteristics can be seen in us. Some are good–I have my dad’s smile and his enjoyment of people. Some aren’t as positive–I can tend to be critical and judgmental, like I heard while growing up. We’re impacted and imprinted with the attributes of those we spend time with.

When we become part of God’s family, trusting His love for us, we become more like Him. Not in an oppressive way, as many may think, but in a loving manner, as a Father looking out for His own.

“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. Now we call Him ‘Abba, Father.’ For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:15-16

“Abba” is a term of incredible endearment and intimacy, close to our “Daddy,” but with more tenderness. God doesn’t want to confuse us with who He is; He embraces us in love.

“See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know Him.” 1 John 3:1

Many have had difficult relationships with fathers and question whether they were loved or cared for. God seeks to blanket us with His love, providing for us the strength and compassion we need as His children.

Beck enjoys all the things his parents enjoy because they’ve shared with him their love of the outdoors.

As we grow closer to God, spending time in a more intimate relationship with Him, we’ll discover a love and commitment to us greater than anything we can imagine.

When we’re His children, we are His delight. The apple of His eye.