Do I know you?

Last week the grandgirlies followed us home to Arizona to spend some time with us after working at Dad's house. During the week, I started playing a game with Allie, my youngest who is 2 1/2. While waiting for our food in a restaurant one day, she came up to me and said,

"Nana! Nana?"
"Do I know you?" I answered.
"Yes," she giggled.
"Oh, is your name Susie?" I asked.
"No, Nana, it is Allie G!"
"Is your name Betsy?"
She replied a little louder, "It is Allie G!"
"Oh I know you, you are my youngest granddaughter, Allie, and I love you!" I replied.
"Yes, Nana!" she giggled, gave me a big smile, and snuggled up for a hug.

This exchange with my sweet girl reminds me of the story of the Good Shepherd in John 10: I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father…They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. I am certain that my Heavenly Father knows my name, in fact He even numbers the hair on my head. He knows me intimately because He made me. But to be a daughter in the family of the King, I realized at a young age the need for a remedy for the sins that separated me from Him and accepted the gift of salvation through Jesus. Just as I know Allie is my granddaughter and part of my family, she knows that my voice means trust, safety, protection, and love; she can sit on my lap any time she wants to. How wonderful to know that I have that same access and security with my Father and when I need Him, He is just a prayer away. And, I am sure that I can sit on His lap, too!