Everyone has a desire to be wanted; it makes us feel loved. And it doesn’t take much for us to feel appreciated or loved or even wanted. A simply gesture will do. 

When I was growing up, when all our friends lined up and two captains picked teams, as long as we were not the last one picked, we felt wanted. 

If we were picked first, second or third, we had an even greater bond with our captain. He wanted us; we were important to his team.

There was even a sense that he liked us.

Every dad or mom knows that feeling when their child sees them after a time away and runs into their arms screaming, “Daddy!” or “Mommy!” 

Even if that time away has only been an eight hour work day, or even an hour long shopping trip, in that situation, as they wrap their little arms tightly around your neck and yell their excitement to see you, about a quarter of an inch from your ear, you know, you feel it, you love the feeling of being wanted, being loved. 

In a work environment, when you get called in to be told you are getting a promotion or given more responsibility, or just a pat on the back because of the work you are doing, you feel wanted, like you are important to your company and to your boss.

Dogs are great at making us feel wanted. They follow you around; they just want to be with you. They are glad to see you when you come home. They stay close to your side. They invite you to play with them. 

They make you feel wanted, loved. 

So the other day, I had this weird and funny thing happen. I entered the garage and got into my car to go to work. I turned it on, backed it out of the garage and stopped to record my mileage for the previous day. 

Then I hit the garage door button, put my car in reverse and backed onto the street.

I looked back at the garage door to make sure it was closing and, just as I went to put the car in drive, I noticed something. 

The garage door was inches from being closed but there was a basketball rolling slowly down the driveway towards my car. 

I laughed, but my first thought was, “Look, that basketball doesn’t want me to leave. It’s like it’s saying, ‘Wait for me; let me come too.’”

In the weirdest way I felt wanted by that basketball. I laughed as I hit the garage door button again and got out of my car. 

I scooped up my basketball in my hands and gave it a few loving bounces as I walked back up the driveway. Then I took a couple of shots at the hoop – just to be playful – and put the ball back in the garage. 

I couldn’t get the smile off my face. 

Can you be wanted by an inanimate object?

Here’s the thing: God created this world, and the fact that you are alive is a sign that you are wanted. Even if you don’t feel wanted by anyone else, you are wanted by God. In fact, God wants you so badly that He sent His Son, Jesus, to come after us. He did that by going to the cross to pay for our sins. That’s how much you are wanted by God. … So how are you going to respond to being wanted?

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: How do you normally respond when you are wanted? Leave your comments and questions below.

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