(this article may have just been an excuse to show this picture... I love my Hudson) 

A couple of weeks ago we took Hudson into Wall Lake for the first time.  He had seen the the natural South Dakota beauty of Wall Lake once before, but hadn't gone in.  The last 6 months has been new experience after new experience for Hudson... especially when it comes to water.

He began his escapades with water in his blue baby bathtub... At  first, his senses were overwhelmed...unsure of the wet liquid that it was filled with... without color, yet it was definitely there... unlike anything he had ever seen or touched before... usually liking it... (that is until it was time to get out and his little behind got cold.)  The water had covered him from head to toe with a little help from mom...

Then finally came Wall Lake... to the 18 pound 5 ounce Hudson... it was bigger than he could have ever imagined... incomprehensible... again unable to look at anything except straight down at the water... much bigger than the little wading pool at McKennan Park and countless times bigger than his blue baby bathtub that he started out in... covered from head to toe with the little help from the waves... As we eased Hudson into it... he was scared, overwelmed and in a state of baby-awe... expressionless... I think he was unsure of how he was supposed to feel or react to all this water... it was just so much...

And then I read verses like these...

Ephesians 3:17-19  I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

I start thinking of my Hudson in Wall Lake... "little buddy, if you think all this water here is mind blowing...wait to you see your first Great Lake... better yet, wait to you see your first ocean." "Dad, can't even begin to explain how much water it is... endless amounts of your blue baby bathtubs...endless amounts of the McKennan Park wading pools... endless amounts of Wall Lakes..."  "You wanna know what Hudson... the ocean is just a glimpse of the love that Jesus...God... the Father has for you... his dear beloved child."  "It's overwhelming... it's so great your little mind and even dad's can't understand it..."  "Hudson, at first it's a bit scaring... you're not used to it... it's new... it's unknown... when you get into it... you can't see and don't want to see anything else... you can't take your eyes off it even to look around... and it's endless... it's everywhere... but soon... you'll find yourself free as a bird... splashing around... kicking your legs with everything you have..."  "You wanna know what else Hudson? It's enough... for you and for dad... there's nothing better... there is no end... you'll find nothing better... As your dad, I don't understand it, but I know it's true buddy."

And then I read this verse... 

1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

And then I begin to picture Hudson...myself... covered head to toe... with a little help from my Father...Christ Jesus and the Cross... I picture him lavishing his love all over me... "Father... please give me more"  "You want more Adam...? Just look around... my love for you has been, is, and will always be endless... it's all around you... right now..."

Father...I come longing for your love... I'm desperate for it... I've been searching everywhere and have been left empty, disappointed, and broken hearted... You, God, Creator... love me, Adam, sinner, unfaithful,... endlessly... Help me to be mesmerized by your love... to the point where I can't possibly look at anything else... don't leave me there... help me as a result of all this love... that's covered me head to toe... help me to glorify You... Your name... Your endless love. Thank you... for You... for Your love... I love you Father... I really do...Amen.