HOOP DREAMS

Ever had a big dream?

Well, I had one when I was a little girl – and it came true! Let me tell you about it…

When I was about five years old, we lived in a suburb of San Francisco. My dad worked in the city. He rode a commuter train, every day, for all those years of working. Late in the afternoon, my mom and I would go pick him up…

I can vividly remember parking on the street, next to a store. (By the way, we always parked in the direction we were going to head home). Then there was a large vacant dirt lot that stretched from the side of the building to the train tracks.

So, I would plant myself in the back seat, and look out the back window – waiting for the train to arrive.

When it chugged in and came to a stop, there was always that moment of anticipation…

And then a virtual ocean of men would flood out of the doors. They marched like a battalion of brown and black ants.

I would excitedly look for my dad.

He was usually pretty easy to find. At 6’ 3” tall – he literally was head and shoulders above most of the crowd!

This was a great moment, every day – but on this particular day, it was something extraordinary…

For weeks I had been daydreaming, pining, nagging about a certain toy that I just HAD to have – a HULA HOOP!

It was all the rage – and I was raging to have one.

I think my parents told me they couldn’t afford to buy it. Sigh…

So, this particular day, I'm scanning the masses just like before – when all of a sudden, there in the middle of the crowd…

NO!

It couldn’t be, could it??

A large, red circle was bouncing along – it was…(cue choir music here)…a

hula hoop!

THAT was pretty exciting in itself – but can you imagine how *excited* I was when I realized that the arm holding it above the crowd belonged to my dad!!

And that meant…

That hula hoop was MINE!!

Oh, what a thrill that was – getting the hula hoop, for sure – but also realizing that my dad had taken the time out of his workday, gone to a toy store, bought the crazy thing, then negotiated it on that train all the way home to me…

It spoke of love.

You know what this story reminds me of? I'm still a little girl inside. And I'm still daydreaming about a certain thing that I just HAVE to have…

Heaven.

I am eagerly watching the sky for my Savior's return. Anticipating His arrival. Excitedly scanning the clouds. Waiting for the triumphal shout…

He's coming, all right.

And He's bringing the one gift that I’ve longed for my whole life.

Eternity.

He's taken the time to purchase it. He bought it with His life. He's carefully negotiating me through this life, all the way home…because He loves me.

He loves you, too – you just have to know that today – in the deepest part of your heart.

HE LOVES YOU.

He's coming back – and He's bringing His reward!

"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am."

(John 14:1-3)

What’s the best childhood gift you ever got?

How do you feel about the incomparable gift of Heaven?

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