This is another “What I’ve learned from my relationship with Nathan” post (see the first one here). We bought a mirror for the car so that I can see Nathan sitting in his carseat. It’s one of those suction cup type mirrors with a long extension arm that swivels so you can adjust the mirror.

Well, the other day, we were going out to the car, and I was carrying Nathan. I decided to bring the mirror with us and install it for our trip to the store. I thought it would be funny to put the suction cup part of the mirror on my forehead and extend the mirror. Nathan thought it was hilarious, too. We had a good laugh until it was time to take the mirror off my head. The suction cup is very strong, and I could feel the blood rushing to my forehead as I tried to pull it off. It left a very big hickey, so I had to walk around last week explaining to people what had happened.

I started thinking about how that situation (and many others) reminds me of God. My relationship with Nathan is one in which I will do just about anything to make him smile. I want to see the joy on his face when I make a funny sound or smile at him. I want to see him light up when I walk into a room. I can’t help but think that these thoughts of mine are the same thoughts of God when He thinks about us. His affection for us is one that causes Him to do a lot of things. He has given us so many things to make us smile. He has done so many things for us so that we will find joy in Him. He wants us to smile when we think of Him. That is the relationship of the Father with his children. That is what I learned from the giant hickey on my forehead.