a song

A sunny, warm summer afternoon on a small farm there is a little blonde girl swinging on a swing made by her dad: simply a piece of wood attached by nylon rope to a tall elm tree. With the warm sun on her face and the soft breeze in her hair, she breaths in the fresh country air. With joy welling up inside her, she makes up a song:

"Out on a summer day

singing my troubles away

oh, it is so fun

with the bright sun

shining down on me!"

She pumps her legs and gets the swing to go as high as possible. At the highest point Annie jumps off, landing to the ground on all fours. She laughs and wipes her dusty hands onto her clothes. Her eye catches a yellow butterfly fluttering nearby. Annie chases it, but suddenly she stops, something else has grasped her interest. A spider is making its web in the doorway of a shed. Annie studies how the spider intricately spins its web. She gets an idea and looks around till she finds a small leaf. Annie carefully places it on the web then watches with anticipation. The spider rushes toward the leaf and somehow is able to violently move the web up and down until the leaf falls out. Then the spider goes back to building its trap for flying insects. Annie feels something brush against her leg. It's one of the new kittens! She grabs him, holds him tightly and rubs her nose in his fur. He begins to purr, but eventually the kitten wriggles free and scampers off.

The peach tree in the yard is heavy with ripe fruit. On her tip toes Annie reaches and plucks a peach off the tree. She bites into the fresh fruit as juice runs down the sides of her mouth "Mmmmmm, I love peaches!" Eating, walking and humming the tune to her new song Annie heads toward the pig pen. She tosses what's left of the peach in with the pigs. Annie laughs as the pigs snort, squeal and shove each other; fighting for the treat. Annie pulls weeds and grass that are growing nearby and throws them into the pen, so that all the hogs have something to munch.

Annie's hands are sticky, her face and clothes dirty, yet she is filled with contentment and happiness. She climbs into a tree. Perched on a branch looking out at the country side she sings her song, "Out on a summer day...."

Her Father in heaven smiles on her. He loves Annie's free spirit and how she is fascinated with His creation and just enjoys being alive.

He knows that her life will not always be this pleasant. The world is full of beauty & wonder, but sadly it is also broken. Bad things happen.

But everything must pass God's approval before allowing hurt, pain and confusion in Annie's life. His desire is to draw this little one unto Him. God wants Annie to come to know Him in a personal way to and experience His unfathomable love.

Some day she will learn that He sacrificed His son, so that the debt for her sins could be paid. The Father wants Annie to trust Him and know that He alone can fill her completely.

Many years will pass before Annie is able comprehend these truths. God knows this.

He patiently pursues her.

Years and years later, Annie hears a song. It deeply touches her soul:

"Was I there for the worst of all your pain?
And was I there when your blue sky ran away?
Was I there when the rains were flooding you?
Off of your feet
Those were My tears falling down for you, falling down for you

Chorus:
I'm the One that you've been looking for
I'm the One that you've been waiting for
I've had My eyes on you ever since you were born
I will love you after the rain falls down
I will love you after the sun goes out
I'll have My eyes on you after the world is no more
~ After The World by DISCIPLE

The love God has for Annie
is the same love He has for you!