The following is an excerpt from page eight of Beautiful Possibilities for Today: Daily Power Thoughts by Robert H. Schuller…

COME-ALIVE-POWER

A few weeks ago I had to spank my youngest child, Gretchen. She’s a darling girl, but she misbehaved and I had to punish her. She ran off to her room and closed the door behind her.

After a few minutes, I walked down the hall and listened at her door. Everything was quiet so I turned the doorknob ever so slowly and peeked my head through the opening. There was her small figure hidden beneath the blankets.

As I walked over to the bed I noticed her treasured toys were scattered across the bed and cuddled next to her was her dolly. I stroked her hair and held her tear-stained face in my hand as I whispered, “Gretchen, are you still awake?” She turned her head as she opened her eyes. Still hugging her dolly, I knew she wanted to hug her daddy.

“Gretchen,” I explained, “I gave you that spanking because I love you.” Her hands came out from under the covers, let go of the dolly, and reached up around my neck. As she put her slippery, wet cheek next to mine, I prayed, “Dear God, Thank you for Gretchen!” That tender moment was a time of special communication between us.

Jesus Christ is alive today and wants to communicate with you. He wants to love you, but you have to let go of your substitute. For a dolly is never a substitute for a daddy! Let Jesus Christ love you today!

I COME TO YOU, LORD,
BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND ME.
I ACCEPT YOUR LOVE. I FEEL YOUR PRESENCE.
I HAVE YOUR POWER WITHIN ME!

Dave was planning to get a cake with trucks on it for Amie and Leonard’s birthday.

“Why trucks?” I asked.

“That’s the best that they had,” he replied.