Waiting for His Return

My son adores his Daddy.

Yesterday, at the end of his lunch break at home, my husband prepared to leave. My son, who had been closely observing his father's every movement, indicated to me by raising his arms and wiggling his fingers that he wanted to walk. The moment I grasped his two hands he pulled himself up and walked as fast as his two little feet could go over to Daddy.

My son made a general nuisance of himself as my husband tried to put on his roller blades. He tried to bump heads with his father (something the two of them do as a sign of affection), grab at a strap on his father's rollerblades (but I didn’t want him to get too close to the wheels), snatch off my husband’s glasses, and try to get his Daddy to hold him.

But Daddy had to leave.

With my son being held back by his mother - his determined strides forward being restrained by the very hands that he held for support - my husband was finally ready to leave.

Daddy gave one last hug and kiss, rolled out the door and then shut the door behind him.

My son gave out a little heartrending cry.

He ran forward to the door and stared at it for a long moment. Maneuvered himself to where it opened and stared at it for another moment, hoping that Daddy would open it and come back in.

But nothing happened.

My son looked up at the doorknob and tried to reach for it. While holding unto one of my hands he let go the other and reached his arm up as high as he could -even going onto his tippytoes- but still could not reach the doorknob. He finally looked imploringly at his mother. “Let me out! Let me go to Daddy!”

I tried to distract him by walking him away from the door but each time he would determinedly turn back and walk up to the door and try reach for the door knob.

He wanted to be with his Daddy!

Eventually I managed to get him away from the door and have him start to play with his toys - but for a couple moments even after that he would look over his shoulder at the door. Waiting for his Daddy.

When Daddy came home at the end of the day- oh the excitement!! My son fairly wriggled with it! The joy! He grinned his biggest grin and when his Daddy scooped him up he gave his Daddy a big hug around the neck! “You are home!! I missed you Daddy!”

May we anticipate Christ’s return with as much joy and excitement!