On Saturday evening, wedding guests enjoyed the 300 cupcakes our daughter Hope made and decorated for her friends Will and Heather. She made the commitment in October. They worked together to identify the seven varieties: six different cakes, seven frostings. All homemade.

It was an amazing project. She planned. She persevered. She mixed. She baked.

Unlike elementary school science projects, Hope did this one. Like elementary science projects, Nancy and I helped. We encouraged, we advised, we ran errands, we drove with her to Kenosha, we spent Friday afternoon as a couple extra sets of dishpan, meringue-mixing, powdered-sugar sifting, sugar-syrup-stirring hands.

Without us, it would have taken Hope much longer. Without Hope, Will and Heather wouldn’t have had cupcakes. It was a willing partnership. We wanted more than anything for Hope to succeed, to excel.

Somewhere in there is a glimpse of God’s work with his kids. Sometimes we decide to help. The desire for sacrifice comes from him. We work hard. He provides strength, encouragement, money, space. We get the “well-done” from the people we help. He also says “well done.” We ask for help, he does. We don’t ask for help, he stands by, waiting.

There are differences, of course. I’m not nearly as good whipping Italian meringue into peaks as God is at making peaks. Nancy and I ended up as exhausted as Hope was, while God participates in many such projects simultaneously.

But I’m pretty sure that the excitement about Hope finding ways to use skills to help people is pretty similar. As is the delight in being asked to help and the willingness to offer significant resources to help.

I know that this kind of post often make people say, “Good parents.” I’m willing to risk that if you and I wonder a bit more about God.