(a 3.5 minute read) Patrick and Sandy are cousins and were born six months apart. They lived close and grew up as best buddies. As creative and active as they were, they did get in trouble often. Their parents would find them doing this or doing that and they’d be grounded, in hopes they’d learn a lesson.

One time in particular, it was summer and they were spending a lot of time together. They were role playing. Patrick was a taxi driver and Sandy was his customer. The game of course was a pretend game. It got a bit boring and Patrick all of a sudden had an idea. He told Sandy, “I know where mom hides the keys to the T-bird in her bedroom.” Sandy jumped out of her chair, and with her eyes wide open said, “Let’s sneak into the bedroom and get them keys.” Patrick got a bit timid, “You know if they find out, we’ll be in a lot a lot a lot of trouble.” Sandy giggled and replied, “Let’s find them keys.” Patrick smiled and they both plotted their course of action.

Not only they got into the T-bird, which is a no-no, they actually drove it around the block. Needless to say, they were found out and they not only got grounded, they had to be chaperoned for an entire week.

This of course put a damper on whatever Patrick and Sandy wanted to do. Even talking among themselves is not the same in the presence of an adult. The stories they’d typically talk about, they could not talk about. How they talked about this person and that person, was definitely out of the question in the presence of an adult. It was just unbearable.

Half way during the 2^nd day, Patrick’s mom, sensing the tension in the air, approached them and said;

You guys make the assumption that a parent is all about rules, dos and don’ts. Like I am sitting hear holding a measuring stick and just watch and listen to everything you say and do and test it against this measuring stick. Pass…………Fail, is what you imagine I am thinking even I am not saying anything. Therefore, you would rather me not be in your presence.

Patrick’s mom positioned her chair to face them both, stretched out her arms and held one of each of the their hands, and leaning into them, smiled as she continued;

I want you both to know that nothing brings a parent more joy than to hear and watch their children giggle and laugh and enjoy themselves. You guys are older now. Imagine if you looked at me as a friend and not as a parent. Just imagine! What you do not know is that I, the mom, want to be your friend and not your parent. Yes, it is true! You know what that means? My presence amongst you is no longer a drag or something to be avoided, rather it would be desired, by me the parent as by you.

Somehow this rang a bell with Patrick and Sandy. The next couple of days were a blast for them all. The best was when Patrick came to his mom and said, “Hey mom, do you think we can take the T-bird around the block?” Mom put her hand on her chin pondering and thinking about it, “only if I am driving it and not you”, was her reply. The laughter was so loud in that room, you could hear it two houses down.

 

The same is TRUE with our Lord and Creator. If you and I spend more time experiencing the presence of the Lord in our daily life, the more at JOY and PEACE we are, as I am sure the more ECSTATIC our Lord is with the acknowledgement of that PRESENCE. It is simple but not easy, to continue to try and develop experiencing the Lord’s presence in our moment by moment life. But the outcome is this wonderful PEACE and JOY that fills you and me utterly and completely.