Being a pastors kid you get the opportunity to hear a lot of sermons. It’s kind of par for the course. Comes with the territory. I wasn’t always a big fan of hearing them, to be honest. Especially when I was younger. They were kinda boring. But, my dads church didn’t really have much of a “youth group”. Our “youth group” consisted of me and my siblings; with the occasional visitor. So, as kids, we got the privilege of staying in for the service. We got to be quiet too; or get a look from my Ma that would immediately make your spine go straight involuntarily. I was never much for sitting still in those hard benches. So I was pretty familiar with that look she had.

But I remember this one Sunday, we had a guest speaker. Some different pastor from a different church. I don’t remember if he was popular among believers or not; he was just different, so I paid a bit more attention that Sunday. I don’t really remember all of what he said that day or even what his point was. But I do remember him saying one line: “Papa, take ee”. He said it in a little kids voice. It sounded funny. I remember making fun of him about it later. I think he was talking that way because that’s how his granddaughter would ask him to be picked up; or something to that affect. Throughout the years, while my babies were small, they’d reach up for me, and occasionally I’d be reminded of that sermon that pastor gave. In time, as I got older, I kind of started to get an idea of what it was that he must have been talking about.

See, I’m not gonna lie; I may have been a pastors kid, but I have questioned and challenged everything I’ve ever been told or heard, for as long as I can remember. I’ve never been much of one that simply did what he was told or accepted what I was told. I didn’t just adopt my fathers faith. I earned it. As I got older, the more in depth I questioned. I’ve spent countless hours reading, debating, arguing, fighting. I’ve seen a pastors face turn white after having put the screws to the doctrine he was selling. Always felt that if you’re looking for the truth, then you have to be willing to ask the tough questions, ya know? Push the limit a bit? Challenge the status quo? I mean, if “God” is God, then He should be able to handle it, right? And if you’re gonna put on a suit and walk that stage to preach, you better be willing to defend what you saying. So ya, I’ve done my share of all through the night wrestling with God. Thankfully, I still seem to walk ok.

But, when a child is young, they tend to wander and go their own way. They’ll see something that interests them, and go to it; without any thought of whether or not what they’re going towards is good for them, or if it will hurt them. They just go. Sometimes out of pure innocence; other times out of rebellion, after having been told. But regardless of the motivation or reason behind it, when something goes wrong, when they get in trouble, when they get hurt, they always run back to their parents. Skin their knee? They want their momma. Something scare them? They want their father. It’s predictable. Like clockwork. When they’re up against it, they know where to go. For safety. Protection. Healing. The response is always the same. Mom and dad console them, bandage them up, correct them, show them love.

We’re no different. I’m no different.

I’m no model Christian. Never professed to be. I push envelope. Every chance I get and sometimes on Sundays.

But I know where to go. I know where to run when life gets the best of me and kicks me to the curb. Skins my knee and I can feel that impending finishing blow. I turn to Christ. My “go to”. I get my bible. I hit my knees.

I pray, “Father…take me. Bring me peace. Open my eyes. Let my lips speak the truth. Give my heart forgiveness. Bring salvation. Forgive me for my actions, my foolishness, my ignorance. Give me mercy. In Jesus name.”

And He does…every time.

I think that’s what that pastor meant. Regardless of where you find yourself in this life, our Heavenly Father is there waiting to pick you up. Hold you in His loving arms and heal you. That must be it.

Copyright©2019 Jacob C. Larson All Rights Reserved