In Her Daddy’s Eyes What a father's love taught me about the heart of God

She is in constant motion and talks incessantly.

She solves wooden puzzles, stacks blocks, and can entertain herself for hours with her toys.

She loves coloring. Usually in coloring books. Sometimes on the wall. Occasionally, perhaps, on her sister.

She has a mind of her own and isn’t afraid to express it. Public tantrums are not out of the question when life doesn’t go according to her plans.

She sleeps through the night…when she feels like it. When she doesn’t, more coffee is required.

She knows perfectly well when she needs to poop. She simply prefers the convenience of a diaper over a potty chair. And apparently, no bribe—no matter how extravagant—can persuade her otherwise.

She is Betsy Lou. And she is two and a half years old.

And she is absolutely, completely, extravagantly loved.

One of the greatest gifts a grandmother can receive is watching her adult son become a loving father.

Especially when that son was a bit “slow to launch” and has spent much of the last decade learning to manage his own strong will, impatience, and occasional intolerance for other people’s “stuff.” (Trust me, he would use a different word.)

So last Sunday, when Jesse brought our precious “BB,” as we affectionately call her, over for a swim, I found myself watching the two of them from my bedroom window.

They didn’t know I was there.

I watched as Jesse carefully lathered his little girl with sunscreen, slipped her into her pink swim vest, and settled himself on the edge of the pool step while she splashed and frolicked in the shallow water.

And then I saw something that stopped me in my tracks.

It wasn’t anything Jesse said or did.

It was the look in his eyes.

As he watched his little girl, his face radiated a tenderness and delight that nearly brought me to tears. There was such pure, unguarded love in his expression. Such joy in simply being with her.

He wasn’t thinking about her tantrums, her stubbornness, or the sleepless nights. He wasn’t dwelling on the crayon marks on the wall or her refusal to use the potty.

He was simply delighting in his daughter.

His little girl.

And in that quiet moment, I felt as though God had pulled back the curtain and allowed me a tiny glimpse into His own heart.

I thought about how much our Heavenly Father loves us.

How He sees us in all our imperfections, our stubbornness, our impatience, and yes, even our occasional tantrums when life doesn’t go the way we think it should.

And yet, His love remains.

We may disappoint Him with our choices. We may resist His guidance, question His timing, or stubbornly insist on having our own way.

But we never cease to be precious in His sight.

His love is not something we earn through perfect behavior. It is a gift of His grace.

Standing there at the window, I whispered a prayer for my son.

I prayed that Jesse would come to understand, more deeply than ever before, how much his Heavenly Father loves him.

That he would know God looks upon him with a love even greater than the tenderness I had just witnessed in his own eyes.

That he would learn to rest in that love rather than striving to earn it.

And that the love he so freely lavishes on his little girl would continue to soften his own heart and draw him closer to the One who first loved him.

Then another thought came to mind.

How differently might we love the people in our lives if we truly understood how deeply we are loved by God?

Would we be more patient with their imperfections?

More gracious when they disappoint us?

More willing to forgive, to extend mercy, and to see beyond their difficult behavior to the precious person God created?

After all, we are all a little like Betsy Lou.

Sometimes stubborn. Sometimes demanding. Sometimes making a mess of things. And sometimes convinced that we know better than our Father.

Yet God continues to invite us into a relationship with Him—not because we’ve finally gotten everything right, but because He loves us.

And the more fully we receive that love, the more freely we can give it away.

I eventually stepped away from the window, leaving Jesse and Betsy to their afternoon of splashing and laughter.

But the image stayed with me.

A little girl, completely unaware of just how much she was loved.

And a daddy whose eyes told the whole story.

I wonder how often we go through our own days equally unaware of the extraordinary love our Heavenly Father has for us.

Perhaps today is a good day to remember.

You are seen. You are known. And in Christ, you are dearly loved.

Not because you are perfect.

But because your Father is perfect in His love.

And that is a love worth resting in—and sharing with the world.

He will rejoice over you with gladness. Zephaniah 3:17

We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Reflection:
When was the last time you stopped trying to earn God’s approval and simply rested in the wonder of being His beloved child? And who in your life needs to experience a little more of that same grace through you?