God’s Delights in Us

Jennifer had her first baby at forty, already a professor in a high-ranked law school. She had experienced politics in Washington and prosecuted cases in federal courts. When I went to visit her, she held her baby up and said that she had learned something new. She had never had the slightest notion of how utterly another person can depend on you, for everything, all day long and all night, too. 

My heart began to sink; it sounded pretty bad. But slowly, how she felt about it dawned in a radiant smile. She was delighted.  “Completely delighted!” 

That mother was sharing an experience God our Creator has with His People. He retains not His anger forever, because He delights in mercy and loving-kindness (Mi.7:18).  God is all Love and takes delight in His creation. Most of all, God takes delight in His human creation—a handful of mud that He made self-aware and that gazes on His magnificent cosmos and sings and rejoices to be His glory.

God’s delight becomes radiant when we grow aware that we depend on Him. All the time, for everything, day by day. We sincerely believe that  the Lord will again take delight in prospering us, just as he delighted in prospering our ancestors (Deut. 30:9.). 

As that mother delights that her baby depends on her, so does God delight that we depend on Him. For everything, all day long, and nighttime, too. That’s one happy thought!

Fr. Joe Tetlow, S.J.