Our little 2 year old Annie might be the reincarnation of
Cindy Lou Whoo (from “The Grinch”), except with a tad bit more spice. At a whopping 25 lbs, she tops out at the 4th
percentile of all girls her age. But she
can talk a mile a minute and always lets you know where you stand with
her. Perhaps, her personality is best
summed up by the story her 4 year old brother told to all the other children at
the McDonald’s play place one day. Ben announced
to the kids who gathered around - staring at tiny Annie, her long eye lashes,
and her captivating grin - “This is my sister Annie. I know she’s cute, but don’t get too
close. She bites!”
That’s our Annie, cute as cute can be. She loves to sing and dance. She’s absolutely
adorable, but has a feisty personality and a vocabulary that rivals children 5
times her age. The other thing you
should know about her, is that she loves loves loves her daddy. They have a close relationship. They have a favorite book, and a favorite
song, and even nicknames for each other.
Their bond is very unique and exceptionally personal. One day as she was examining their
relationship, she came to the realization that she was very tiny and Dad was
quite big. Ready to announce her new
found conclusion, she went and found her daddy and said, “Dad! Look down!”
He saw her and picked her up. With
a grin and definitive tone she said, “Daddy, you’re my giant!”
It is undeniable that the two of them are bonded in a unique
personal way. In fact, Derik said one
day, if there were 100 men who looked exactly like me and talked exactly like
me in a huge gymnasium, and Annie was standing there facing us, I have no doubt
that she would find me. I asked him how
he could be so sure, and he said, “Because I’d call her, ‘My Nanner New.’ None of the other fake dads would know that
name. She would hear me and come to me.” It is true.
She would know him. Even in the
midst of so many imposters, she would know her Giant and she would run to him.
And so it is with true followers of Christ. Being a Christian isn’t about a checklist of
things to do or some sort of contract, as if we sign our name to the end of
Revelation certifying that we read the Bible or believe parts of it. And it isn’t about sending up requests and
thank you notes to God in heaven disguised as random prayers throughout the
day. Many people claim to be followers
of Christ, but real Christianity is about a personal intimate unique
relationship with Jesus Christ.
John 10:27 reads, “My sheep listen to my
voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Thank you, Derik, for being such a wonderful
father and husband. The deep personal
relationship you have with your children is truly a reflection of Christ in
your life. You have shown our children a
glimpse of what it is like to know their Father in Heaven and we are so blessed
by you.
