Dad’s Routine

Bible Reading: Psalm 139:1-10

Malachi waited in the hallway, tapping his foot on the floor. "Almost time…"

He didn't have to wait long. The door to his dad's office opened, and his dad appeared with his glasses pushed up on the top of his head. "Hi, bud," Dad said.

Malachi grinned and started for the kitchen. He knew his dad would follow him.

An hour later, Malachi positioned himself in the hallway again. This time his dad wouldn't just be getting water but also a snack. He was hoping he might share.

"Have you been standing out here all morning?" Dad asked as he stepped out of his office.

Malachi shook his head with a grin. "What are you having today? Yogurt? A granola bar?"

Dad gave him a sheepish smile. "How did you know I was feeling ready for a snack?"

Malachi shrugged. Ever since his dad started working from home, he'd been paying attention and learning his routine.

Malachi told his grandma about it that evening when she came to the house so his dad could go to a meeting. "I've memorized it all. He does everything at a certain time, even going outside to get a little fresh air."

Grandma smiled. "It shows you care a lot about him for you to memorize his routine so you can see him when he takes little breaks from his work."

Malachi nodded slowly. It did show that, didn't it? He wanted all the time he could get with his dad.

Malachi frowned. "No one cares enough to memorize my routine. I don't think Dad even knows what time I get up."

"Your dad might not, but someone does," Grandma said, scooping a homemade brownie onto a plate. "In Psalm 139, we read that God knows every move we make. Not only did He love us enough to send Jesus to save us from sin, but He cares about us enough to pay attention to our daily routines."

"Really?" Malachi asked. "Well, that's cool."

Grandma nodded. "Your dad loves and cares about you too, Malachi. If you're feeling lonely, maybe you should talk to him about spending more time together. But when your dad can't be with you, remember that God is. He knows everything about you and cares about your life. You can always talk to Him."

–Emily Acker