You have been approved. We often see or hear these words in connection to a pre-approved credit card or loan. I see the word almost daily as I slide my credit card to purchase groceries. Yes, I go almost every day….I do have five teenagers. <\/p>\n
Approval, we all long for it. Some are fortunate to receive it. Some are just left longing to hear it. I was one who was left longing. You see, my parents divorced when I was very young. I didn’t have any memories of my father until I was 5 or 6. That’s when he and his wife came to visit for a weekend. I remember being very excited. I was sure that once he spent time with me, he would never want to let me go again. The three of us went to the mountains. I was thrilled because we went high enough to see snow which is a big deal for a girl living in the desert of Arizona! I remember them taking me to Jack-in-the-box. They bought me dinner and watched me eat it in the back seat of their car. I remember being annoyed because I thought we were going out to a fancy restaurant with cloth napkins, not to a fast food place to eat in the car! Did I mention I was a bit precocious as a child? Throughout the entire weekend I was on my best behavior. I wanted them to approve of me. I wanted to show that I was good daughter material.<\/p>\n
Sadly, I was not approved; I did not measure up. I did not hear from my father again for several years. During that time a lie was planted and took root in my heart. The lie that I was flawed; that there was something so wrong with me that even my father couldn’t look past it. That lie spurred me on to find a way to cover my flaws and make myself acceptable. I tried to follow all the rules, do well in school, and be responsible; anything that would allow me to hear those words I longed to hear….you have been approved. The problem was that I could never do enough. I was left tired and empty.<\/p>\n
Then one day God sent me a birthday cake…..<\/p>\n
A wonderful gentleman who lived down the block from us would bring us a cake from his family’s bakery from time to time. These cakes were both beautiful and very delicious. More importantly, the cakes always included lavish amounts of encouragement. And as a mom with five small children, I needed a lot of encouragement!<\/p>\n
One day, he delivered a cake the day before my birthday. The kids and I had just been discussing what kind of cake we should make when he rang the bell. As I thanked him, I heard God tell me, “I celebrate your birthday every year. Your earthly father may not be here, but I am and I love you.”<\/p>\n
I had been approved as a daughter and I’ve never been the same……<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
You have been approved. We often see or hear these words in connection to a pre-approved credit card or loan. I see the word almost daily as I slide my credit card to purchase groceries. Yes, I go almost every day….I do have … Continue reading