Come Sit by Me!

“Praise the LORD, O my soul; …praise his holy name…

and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins…” Psalm 113:1-3

When I used to drive the YMCA bus, there was a little guy who rode and was constantly hopping around, standing up in the isle, falling out of his seat, and to top it all off, he was always talking ninety-to-nothing.  I always had to tell him to sit down, don’t talk so loud, and get back in his seat.  Then there was the little girl who sat across from him.  She talked occasionally, but not too loud.  She would sometimes turn around in her seat to see what was happening behind her, but mostly she was a good little passenger.

The cutest thing happened one day between the two of them.  Because of a problem that occurred on the bus I had to move one of the older boys to sit in her seat.  Knowing she liked the front seat I asked her if she wanted to sit with the little guy in the seat beside her.  She said, “Yes.”  One day she sat down by him and he turned and asked her, “Why do you want to sit with me everyday?”  With a sheepish grin she replied, “Because I think you’re pretty.”

Most of the time, we are like the little guy - hopping around and always doing something we shouldn’t.  Then, just like the little girl, here is Jesus still wanting to sit by us.  Even though He knows our faults, He sits by quietly watching us hop from one crazy thing to another.  His grace is amazing and His forgiveness is complete.  Psalm 103:11-12 says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”  


Today may we remember that our Heavenly Father loves us and considers us His treasured possession.  And most importantly, He loves to sit by us!