treasure

friday afternoon

i came downstairs from putting P (3 year old) down for his nap

and K (6) had a big smile on her face

and with sparkling eyes she said

"i've hidden treasures for you to find all over!

and they all have your initials on them

and you'll have to look under things

and in things

and around things

and they're all in the living room

and i'll help!"

and all over the living room

were small pieces of construction paper

that she had labored over

drawing hearts

and pictures of her and i together

and the ones that made my heart melt

that said "I♥U" and "I♥L"

and she did help--if i was near one she would say

"oh, don't forget to look in the drawer"

"there might be one on the train table"

i kind of giggled to myself

because most of her hiding places were oh-so-obvious.

and when i had found all 8 slips of paper

she said "now YOU do one for ME!"

so i obliged

happily

even though there were emails to be sent, and toys to be picked up

i wanted to return the favor

of such a loving and special game

when we were finished and a friend had come to pick her up for an afternoon of play

i continued on with my work

and then it hit me

WHAT a picture of God i received today!

because all through my life

He's hidden treasures

and i have to look under

and around

and inside

and all around my path

but He helps me find them

some of them are small, unexpected blessings

like a phone call from an out of town friend

saying she's coming through town

or seeing someone's facebook status

and it's a scripture or a song lyric that i've been meditating to

and some of them make my heart melt

like holding a newborn

or hearing "i love you"

or being so consumed in His presence

that nothing else matters

and the funny thing is

i'm pretty sure that sometimes i can hear Him say

"lora...look over here"

because the hiding places which are oh-so-obvious

i'm missing somehow

and when it's all done

(though it will never be done)

i want to return the favor

such an amazing, loving God

how can i hide little treasures for Him to find?

this life

is a treasure hunt

with amazing and divine surprises

hidden everywhere

and sometimes

it takes a child to remind us.