I have a date tonight, and I have to tell ya that I'm slightly giddy with excitement. No, I would definitely not describe this as a "hot date" (I'm already married), and no I am not going out with my wife either. On this particular night I am actually having a "date night" with my 11-year old daughter. And she's even more excited about it than I am! She is eager for some one-on-one "daddy time".

Although this is a slightly unconventional way to think of dates, the idea is the same. To go out, have fun, and learn a little more about each other, with the expectation that the relationship we are already both excited about will grow and deepen! I've actually done this with each of my kids, though not as often as I would like. When you have several children, it's important to spend individual time with each one. Even though I am the exact same daddy to all of them, the way I relate to each one is rather different.

This last thought is one that really blows my mind about the Daddy (Abba Father) that all us "believers" share. He is one Daddy to many millions of children (spiritually speaking of course), but to each and every one of us He relates to us differently. Isn't that amazing? This is important to remember too, lest we be tempted to pass judgment on another's relationship with the Father based on assumptions drawn from our own unique relationship with Him. This is also a primary reason why it is vital that EACH ONE OF US finds time to spend with the Lord each day, individually. We simply can't rely on our corporate Sunday worship services to give us our supply of "Daddy time", the relationship will only grow weaker and we'll likely always be envious of the closeness others enjoy with God.

As for my daughter, she is actually excited to spend time with ME! And I am eating it up while it lasts, because I know there will come a time when her friends, education, occupation, and even boys will eventually take her heart away from me. This also reminds me that the human heart struggles to devote itself to more than one thing at a time. But tonight her heart is mine, and I will revel in the relationship in which I have invested so much throughout her life! Can you imagine that God might feel this way about us too?