David trudged down the long driveway, dragging his feet in the dirt. Skippy looked at him, as if to ask what was wrong. When David reached the house, he went straight to the kitchen island, plopped a package on the table, and sat staring at it.
“So, who’s the box for?” Mom asked.
“Me. It’s my birthday present from Papa and Nana,” David answered. “Why would they send a package? My birthday is Sunday, and they always bring my presents with them when they come.”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you open the card that’s attached to the package?”
David opened the envelope and withdrew a colorful birthday card with notes from both Nana and Papa inside. “Papa’s been sick and doesn’t feel like traveling right now,” David reported with sadness. “Man! I was so looking forward to making cookies with Nana and hunting with Papa. It stinks that they won’t be here!”
“But they sent a present,” Mom pointed out.
“Do you want to open it?” Dad asked.
“Maybe later. Right now I’m just so disappointed that they won’t be here. I appreciate the gift, but I really wanted time with them.”
“You know what this makes me think of, David?” Dad asked.
David grinned. “No, but I bet it’s about God.”
“Yep! You know me well.” Dad smiled. “It reminds me of the David in the Bible who was said to be ‘a man after God’s own heart.’ He had a close relationship with God, even though he still messed up at times. Still, he wrote many psalms that talked about his love for God and God’s presence — like Psalm 16:11: ‘In Your presence is fullness of joy’” (NASB).
Mom agreed. “That David understood the need to have God always with him, just as you feel the need to have Papa and Nana physically here with you.”
“Wow,” David said. “That makes me think about how sad God must be when I only pray and ask Him for things. I don’t spend enough time just enjoying His presence, reading His Word, sharing my thoughts with Him, and listening for Him to answer. I want His presents more than His presence when I do that.”
Dad smiled. “That’s a powerful insight, David.”
“Yes,” agreed Mom. “You hit on a really important idea that too many people overlook. God isn’t some genie in a bottle to grant wishes. He’s a loving Father who wants what is best for His people, and that includes a close and loving relationship with Him.”
David looked thoughtful. “I’m going to wait to open my present until my birthday. Then I can FaceTime Papa and Nana and enjoy spending time with them that way. Right now, I’m going to go upstairs and spend time with my heavenly Father by reading my Bible, asking God to help me really understand what it says, and sharing my thoughts with Him. I’m going to concentrate on being in His presence.”
