One night as I was putting Joshua to bed, after I sang and prayed with him, I said to him, “I love you, Joshua. I like being with you.” His quick reply was sweet, insightful, innocent and humorous. He said, “Yea, I like being with me, too. I’m with myself all the time.” I smiled (trying not to giggle until I left his room) and kissed his head.
While I thought he was going to give me the expected reply of: “I love you, too, Mom. And I like being with you, too.”, I loved his reply. It’s become a prayer of mine for Joshua. That he would always be thankful for the person God is making him to be. That he treasures in his heart all the sweet moments just between himself and His Savior. That his heart is postured in humility before the Lord, asking Him to seek his heart and to change any offensive ways. (Psalm 139) That he knows God’s eyes are always on him, and he is never alone. That he is willing to stand alone with and for Christ. That he will always walk humbly and boldly as a son of God, saved by His grace, clothed in righteousness by His blood and made pure by His sacrificial love. That he would be a young boy, growing intimately in the perfect love, grace and knowledge of God, who becomes a young man who loves the Truth and an adult man sold out and surrendered to the Lord. That God will place those special relationships in his life with family and friends, and one day a wife, who love God with their whole hearts. That they would point each other to Jesus.
May Joshua always know “The God Who Sees Me” (Genesis 16:3). May God find Joshua’s heart faithful to Him. (Nehemiah 9:8)
Joshua’s words from that bed-time moment reverberate in my heart every single day. “I like being with me, too. I’m with myself all the time.” I pray we all are comfortable being with ourselves and our Savior. In times of pruning and refining. In times of heartache. In times of blessing and abundance. In times of rejoicing. God’s eyes are always on us. He is always with us.
Our precious continual moments with Jesus. Yes, I like being with me, too, steadfastly accompanied by my faithful and sweet Savior whose love is unconditional.