“The Runaway Bunny”
by Margaret Wise Brown
“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 be 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 can 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.
This book about an adventurous bunny and his clever mother was a family favorite that I read to my kids even when they well beyond “bunny” age. In “The Runaway Bunny”, we get to tag along in this beautiful story of longing, commitment, dedication and deep love. Not the kind of love that fades, but the only kind of true love – the love that remains always and forever, even when we don’t have the sense to accept it and choose instead to run.
It’s easy for a mom to relate to the mother bunny in this story…there’s this fierce, protective love that we embody for our children that would truly make us do anything and go anywhere to find them!
Are you surprised at how that feels….how intimate it suddenly becomes? Why is it so easy for us to accept the love of a mother for her child, and yet so hard to imagine the same care, passion and deep love of God that will never stop reaching for us?
I first wrote a version of this devotion five years ago, but it came to mind today as we are here in our final stretch of Lent and it seemed a good word for 2020 as well. As we continue along this journey through Lent, I hope you know how fiercely loved by God you are. God would not only do anything and go anywhere to find us, but He already has. He’s here….right now, loving us more perfectly than we could ever imagine love could be. He’s passionate about us and desires to be as close as we’ll allow. Sometimes we just need a really big hug from one who loves us unconditionally and completely. So, run into the arms of the One who designed love itself…..and be loved.
So Much Love,
Shellie ♥
Run To The Father
Cody Carnes
I’ve carried a burden
For too long on my own
I wasn’t created
To bear it alone
I hear Your invitation
To let it all go
Yeah I see it now
I’m laying it down
And I know that I need You
I run to the Father
I fall into grace
I’m done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon
My soul needs a friend
So I’ll run to the Father
Again and again
And again and again
Oh, oh, oh
You saw my condition
Had a plan from the start
Your Son for redemption
The price for my heart
And I don’t have a context
For that kind of love
I don’t understand
I can’t comprehend
All I know is I need You
I run to the Father
I fall into grace
I’m done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon
My soul needs a friend
So I’ll run to the Father
Again and again
And again and again
Oh, oh, again and again
And again and again
Oh, oh
My heart has been in Your sights
Long before my first breath
Running into Your arms
Is running to life from death
And I feel this rush deep in my chest
Your mercy is calling out
Just as I am You pull me in
And I know I need You now
I run to the Father
I fall into grace
I’m done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon
My soul needs a friend
So I’ll run to the Father
Again and again
I run to the Father
I fall into grace
I’m done with the hiding
No reason to wait
And my heart found a surgeon
My soul found a friend
So I’ll run to the Father
Again and again
And again and again
Oh, oh, again and again
And again and again
Oh, oh, oh
Again and again
