Cayden Handed Me His Pacifier

This week an amazing thing happened. I was putting Cayden to sleep for a nap, and I had just put his pacifier into his mouth.

After a few moments of enjoying it, he took the pacifier out and put it to my mouth with a smile on his face.

This slobber covered pacifier may seem gross to some, but, to me, it was a perfect expression of mutual love. I was overjoyed.

After a few “nom nom” noises, I returned it to him, and he shortly went to sleep in my arms.

Cayden has taught me so much about God and how He views His children. I don’t see how I could ever reject my boy’s sincere expression of love and thankfulness regardless of how gross others may view the slobbery pacifier.

I believe that God accepts our worship based on the same conditions:

For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Psalm 51:16-17

Cayden didn't hand me the pacifier because I need it or require it. He didn't give it to me to pacify me (haha). It was a pure statement of love. As I had given to him, so he gave to me. No games. No keeping score. No expectations. No transactions. No checklists. Just love.

Perhaps this is what Jesus meant when He told His disciples that only those who become like children enter the kingdom of Heaven. Just pure love, trust, and thankfulness.

God is love, and we are His children. Let us offer up to Him expressions of love, not to make God love us, but because He loves us.