Sunday night I posted Road Trip Reflections:  Technology and Time Zones in which I mentioned I’d spent the weekend helping my daughter, Grace, relocate from Memphis to Nashville, Tennessee.  It was a busy weekend with lots of strenuous physical activity, lifting furniture and heavy boxes.  It was also tiring from the mental awareness required for driving almost 1,200 miles.  By the time I got home I was exhausted.

As tiring as it was, I have to say it was one of the most pleasurable and fulfilling three days I’ve spent in a long time.  It was an opportunity to spend valuable time with Grace. For the most part, it was just she and I working side by side, spending eight hours together in my truck, and sharing meals and life for a couple of days.  We talked and I got a glimpse or two of what’s on her mind, what her concerns are, and what makes her happy.  Even when we weren’t working or in conversation, it was nice just to be in her presence.

Grace is the youngest of our four daughters.  The others are all married with children.  None of them live close to us and consequently we seldom get to see them or our grandchildren.  When we are able to get together, the days are centered around the grandkids, leaving little time to simply reconnect with my daughters.  I love my grandchildren dearly, but I do miss quality time and good conversation with their parents.

There is a certain loneliness that goes along with being a parent once all the kids have flown from the nest and are living their own adult lives.  While my head tells me it’s the way it should be, my heart still desires that closeness.

This morning, as I entered into my daily prayer and meditation, I invited the Holy Spirit to open my mind and heart to the Word of God, and I placed myself in His presence.  As always, I could sense Him asking me to open up and share with Him what’s on my mind and heart.  In that moment, I felt His extreme love for me, a beloved son.  It was a love that I could relate to, much deeper, I’m sure, but akin to the love I feel for my own children and the desire to spend time with them.  God wants to spend time with me.  He wants to know what is on my mind, what are my struggles, what makes me happy (am I happy?), and how He can help me.  

In light of my weekend with Grace, I thought how God must long for those similar experiences with us when we get to spend time together.  And, I thought how sad and lonely it must be when we are too busy to spend time with Him in prayer.  

God gave His only Beloved Son, Jesus, so that we would know His love for us and find unity with Him.  Jesus reflected that love from the crucifix when He uttered, “I thirst”.  

God thirsts for your love.  Love Him by spending time with Him in prayer and daily meditation.

“Heavenly Father, I love You.  And, as an adult father, I know Your love for me.  I thank You for the grace to spend time with You each morning in prayer, for the conversations we have, for your gentle promptings when I need help.  But, I know, too, that the world I live in gets in the way sometimes, keeping me away from You.  I pray for Your understanding.  Amen.”

(A Father’s Love was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

©2013-2023 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.