Do it again
That tree — and the tree swing — was so huge — and my 2 year old granddaughter was so small. With one gentle push, the swing would travel a long distance. But… she kept reaching up for it, so I finally decided to see if she was ready for the journey.
After securing her in the swing, I pulled it back as far as I felt I safely could. The joy on her face as she waited for me to release her was evident!
She laughed as I said, “Ready? Set? Go…”
Releasing my grip, she began to sail through the air. Her hair was flying, she held on tightly, her mouth was wide open, but no words came out.
And, of course, being the doting grandmother I am, I took off running alongside her.
When the swing made its way back to me, I grabbed it and held on.
She immediately cried out, “Do it again! Do it again!”
Ready? Set? Go…
She soared through the air happily.
Do it again! Do it again!
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
No matter how many times she did it, as soon as she got back in my grip, the same words came, “Do it again!”
And… I would.
And … she was joyful.
Much later, when she finally failed to say, “Do it again,” I got her out of the swing.
Maybe we do the same thing. We cry out, “Do it again, Lord!” Then one day we become complacent and stop asking.
In Psalm 51:10, David asked that a right spirit be renewed in him. In Psalm 51:12, he asked for the joy of his salvation to be restored.
Renewed means established again. Restored means brought back again. Perhaps we need to ask God to ‘do it again’ more often than we care to admit.
Renew and restore.
God can — and will — do it again.
Just as I stood behind Hope, held securely to her, gave her the gentle push, and then followed alongside her on the journey, so she could do it again, God does the same for us.
Not only did the journey in the swing bring joy to my two year old, but every time she asked me to do it again, it brought joy to me, because I was able to give her the desires of her heart.
It’s a win-win.
We cry out, “Do it again, Lord! Renew us! Restore us!”
Then, according to Zephaniah 3:17, God rejoices over us with joy.
I can almost envision Him saying, “Ready? Set? Go…”

Ann is a speaker and teacher. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com