It really wasn't his fault. He just didn't know us very well. We only saw him 4 or 5 times a year for a few hours. How do you adjust to strangers calling themselves Nonna & Grandpa as they reach out to hug and kiss you when you're only 4 years old? Well, being the imaginative child he was, he figured out a way to socialize without getting too close.

He was a little more used to me because he had seen me more often. But he wasn't ready to approach the bearded man who called himself Grandpa, at least not yet. He really seemed to like this Grandpa guy and wanted to talk to him but somehow just couldn't do it by himself so he enlisted the assistance of his fearless outspoken 6-year-old sister. And did he ever keep her busy. He had a lot of things he wanted to say but only if she functioned as his mouthpiece. The problem with this method of conversation was that his sister wouldn't speak for him when she had something she wanted to say. And there were times when it was obvious she wasn't saying exactly what he wanted her to say.

It wasn't the most effective way to interact and Grandpa was really missing the hugs and kisses he had grown accustomed to with his other grandchildren. But before the night was over he realized it was completely safe and much more effective to speak to Grandpa on his own. And he actually enjoyed the communication and hugs with this Grandpa guy. How could he possibly have known things would be that good?

In that same way, we need not have fear of our Heavenly Father. Because Jesus has performed the work of a great High Priest, we can go directly to God without having to go through an interpreter.

Hebrews chapter 14 explains this fully. The last verse in that chapter sums it up perfectly, "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it." (NLT)

So we see that we do not need anyone to speak to the Father for us. And besides, you know what they say...

If you want it done right, DO IT YOURSELF!