Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th President, used to greet people saying  ‘Dee-lighted’!  And he meant it.  People remembered him for this greeting for the rest of their lives.  That’s how God feels about you and me.  He loves us, His children, through faith in Jesus Christ, His only Son.  He delights in us–‘For the Lord delights in His people, He adorns the humble with salvation’ (Psalm 149: 4 NIV) and ‘The Lord your God is in your midst…He will rejoice over you with gladness…'(Zephaniah 3:17).  ‘Dee-lighted…’!

For my 65th birthday my wife organized a pot-luck dinner at our church that was advertised as a ‘Roast of the Pastor’, the old goat!  My wife was amused when people came up to her wondering what kind of roast would be served–pork or beef?!  Really now!  Even some of my goofiness showed up that Sunday–the birthday cake that had ‘Happy Bar Mitzvah, Seymour’!  My primitive portrait that I call ‘Gwendolyn’, which could be considered among some of the worst art anywhere by anyone ever!   She was there for all to admire and lose their appetite over!

People shared some really nice things about me and my ministry (which is not the object of a ‘roast’!).  And then came a dear friend, who gave a scathing diatribe against me, concerning all the wonderful background stories of favorite hymns that I share in worship,  which I research and memorize.  People loved those stories.  She did admit that people liked the background stories,  but it was really my wife who did all the research and let me get all the credit for it all, never doing a lick of work myself!  How horrible.  Who told her?  Who let the cat-out-of-the-bag?!   Truth be told,  this woman is a dear friend… and it was such a dee-light! having fun poked at me.  Knew it came with lots of love and friendship.

What no one knew except me was that as people were ‘roasting’ me,  two of my grandsons were under the head table shoving plastic forks and spoons inside the socks of both my shoes!

God delights in us.  He roars with dee-light when He sees us, the messes we get into, the crazy thinking we have, all the stuff that makes you… you!  Feel His delight.  May it make your days lighter. Have fun!  Laugh!  Go ahead…poke fun at yourself!   Feel the love God has for you.  Dee-lightful indeed!

Prayer:  Our Lord, thank you for just delighting in me.  In Jesus your Son.  Amen.