...and God smiled

Several years ago I read a great book on listening and the author included spiritual exercises that were pretty intriguing.

One of the exercises suggested that I ask God, "What about me makes you smile?"

I had no idea what God would say.

The answer took my breathe away...

"I smile when you spill your milk."

Now, I have a long history of spilling my milk (and everything else). I was always in trouble as a child for spilling. I have a lot of shame when I spill. I get really embarrassed. There have been times in my life when if someone asked me, "If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?" I would have answered - I wouldn't spill things.

So, God why do you smile when I spill my milk?

And the answer?

"Because it's you...uniquely you. I remember when you would get so excited as a child and you would spill your milk. I didn't care about the milk, or the spill. I only cared about how happy you were before you spilled it, and how sad after. But here's the thing. Even when you were little when you were upset you ran to me. You came right to me and buried yourself into my arms."

"See? It's you I wanted all along."

wow.

So, now when I spill my milk, and yes when I run to God I remember.  I remember that he's smiling as he's holding me.

And I smile.