The wind was whipping through our hair.  The thin, plastic, rain ponchos we had on were nearly torn off our bodies.  The sheer delight and broad smile that stretched across my husband’s face, though, was priceless.

He and I were strapped into a side-by-side, riding through some of the most beautiful ORV trails in Michigan (please note I said beautiful, not smooth, gentle, OR easy).

The trails were extremely bumpy, dotted with boulders to climb and ditches to navigate.  I have never been on a bucking bronco, but I imagine riding one of those would have been easier than this 3-hour, arduous trek we were on.

Regardless, my husband couldn’t have been happier.  It was like watching a kid in a candy store as he arm-wrestled the steering wheel of this machine and dominated the trails.

This man that I love so dearly was soaking up every minute of this physically agonizing, semi-painful journey.  As the machine’s gears crunched up and down to deal with the obnoxious terrain, it was obvious that, at that moment, there was nowhere else Anthony would have rather been.

I smiled as I watched him experience such happiness.  It filled me with joy.

I’m certain that is precisely how God feels as He sees us, His precious children, living life to the fullest and enjoying the moments He gives us.

Can you picture that? God smiling upon you and happy with you today?

For many, that’s a hard pill to swallow. 

The world, the powers of darkness, and many times various churches love to paint God predominately in a harsh, severe, and standoffish kind of way.  Perceived mostly as an angry God ready to lower the boom should we step out of line, God is often relegated to the equivalent of an angry judge for most.

Yet, the beautiful truth is that He loves us and is happier with us than we generally imagine!

The fact that He smiles over His kids and delights in seeing them enjoy life to the max is an image that anyone who is a parent can relate to. 

Doesn’t your heart just burst with joy whenever you see your kids playing and having fun?  Don’t you find yourself smiling when you hear them laughing and see them happy?

That same joy fills our Heavenly Father’s heart over us!

“The LORD your God…is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and He will refresh your life with his love.” (Zephaniah 3:17 CEV)

Until next time, Grace and Glory!