One of the greatest joys of raising our children was the privilege of reading to them. And did we read! We shared so many bedtime adventures together and many times went far deeper into the night than “responsible” parents should have, because we just didn’t want the stories to end either! Kelsey, in particular, would ensure the drawing out of reading time by neatly preparing her stack of preferred reading options and “letting” me pick any five – my choice! I loved watching their imaginations ignite as they pictured places and characters in vivid detail, often stopping us to ask questions and add comments – such fun, precious memories!
I was reminded of one of our favorite stories recently when my pastor (and also my kids’ dad) shared it in church. To illustrate the depths and lengths that God will go to in order to “find” us and never let us drift away from His love, Pastor Tom read to us from the famous book by Margaret Wise Brown titled, “The Runaway Bunny”:
Once there was a little bunny who wanted to run away.
So he said to his mother, “I am running away.”
“If you run away,” said his mother, “I will run after you.
For you are my little bunny.”
“If you run after me,” said the little bunny,
“I will become a fish in a trout stream
and I will swim away from you.”
“If you become a fish in a trout stream,” said his mother,
“I will become a fisherman and I will fish for you.”
“If you become a fisherman,” said the little bunny,
“I will become a rock on the mountain, high above you.”
“If you become a rock on the mountain high above me,”
said his mother, “I will become a mountain climber,
and I will climb to where you are.”
“If you become a mountain climber,”
said the little bunny,
“I will be a crocus in a hidden garden.”
“If you become a crocus in a hidden garden,”
said his mother, “I will be a gardener. And I will find you.”
“If you are a gardener and find me,”
said the little bunny, “I will be a bird
and fly away from you.”
“If you become a bird and fly away from me,”
said his mother, “I will be a tree that you come home to.”
“If you become a tree,” said the little bunny,
“I will become a little sailboat,
and I will sail away from you.”
“If you become a sailboat and sail away from me,”
said his mother, “I will become the wind
and blow you where I want you to go.”
“If you become the wind and blow me,” said the little bunny,
“I will join a circus and fly away on a flying trapeze.”
“If you go flying on a flying trapeze,” said his mother,
“I will be a tightrope walker,
and I will walk across the air to you.”
“If you become a tightrope walker and walk across the air,”
said the bunny, “I will become a little boy
and run into a house.”
“If you become a little boy and run into a house,”
said the mother bunny, “I will become your mother
and catch you in my arms and hug you.”
“Shucks,” said the bunny, “I might just as well
stay where I am and be your little bunny.”
And so he did.
“Have a carrot,” said the mother bunny.
———————————————————
Of all the times I remember reading this beautiful story to my children, it was always the mother I identified with. I would go anywhere, do anything, risk anything to find them if they drifted too far from me….and they would always return home….to safety. I never once imagined I was the bunny….
There is such a beautiful parallel in this simple telling of a mother’s love for her child and God’s love for us. As I listened to this story being read in church and saw the familiar illustrations being projected I could barely make them out through tear-filled eyes. And I just kept thinking, “I’m the bunny….that’s me, right there. Yep….I’m the bunny” and that would make God the one pursuing me…protecting me…loving me…and calling me home. (Sigh)
He loves us so, friends. No matter where you are in your relationship with God (or non-relationship with God), whether you can see it or feel it or know it….He’s right here. He cares about our hurts and there truly is healing in his hands. I know it to be true. It’s happening in my heart more and more each day. I’m coming home. <3
Healing Is In Your Hands
Christy Nockles
could keep us from Your love
No sickness, no secret, no chain is strong enough
to keep us from Your love
to keep us from Your loveHow high, how wide
No matter where I am, healing is in Your hands
How deep, How strong,
And now by Your grace I stand, healing is in Your hands
Our present, our future, our past is in Your hands
We’re covered by Your blood
We’re covered by Your blood
How high, How wide
no matter where I am, healing is in Your hands
How deep, How strong
And now by Your grace I stand, healing is in Your hands
In all things we know that
We are more than conquerors
You keep us by Your love
