Sheeesh!
The relationship described by the ‘angel’ in this scene is completely backwards. When we deny God our love, He is not the one that suffers - we do. Our suffering is the loss of a relationship with our Creator by our own willfulness. Only within the colossal ego of man exists the thought that God is sitting around waiting for us to love Him.
I don't believe that anyone posits that God has nothing better to do than "sit around and wait," as you phrase it.
But you seem to posit an entirely indifferent God. One indifferent to whether we love Him or not - that doesn't really care, one way or another, doesn't suffer when we withhold our love.
care (n.)
Old English caru, cearu "sorrow, anxiety, grief," also "burdens of mind; serious mental attention," from P.Gmc. *karo (cf. Old Saxon kara "sorrow;" Old High German chara "wail, lament;" Gothic kara "sorrow, trouble, care;" German Karfreitag "Good Friday"), from PIE root *gar- "cry out, call, scream" (cf. Irish gairm "shout, cry, call;" see garrulous).
Different sense evolution in related Dutch karig "scanty, frugal," German karg "stingy, scanty." The sense development in English is from "cry" to "lamentation" to "grief." Meaning "charge, oversight, protection" is attested c.1400, the sense in care of in addressing. To take care of "take in hand, do" is from 1580s.
care (v.)
Old English carian, cearian "be anxious, grieve; to feel concern or interest," from P.Gmc. *karojanan (cf. Old High German charon "to lament," Old Saxon karon "to care, to sorrow"), from the same source as care (n.). OED emphasizes that it is in "no way related to L. cura." Related: Cared; caring.
If God cares, then God grieves ("suffers") when His creations fail.
Regards,
>> When we deny God our love, He is not the one that suffers - we do.
The author didn’t claim that God “suffers” if we don’t love him. Only you did.
>> Only within the colossal ego of man exists the thought that God is sitting around waiting for us to love Him.
Only within YOUR colossal ego do your straw men exist. The author never said those words.
What the author DID say, however, is true and is backed by Scripture. God is such an awesome, powerful and SECURE being that He created creatures that have the free will to chose NOT to love him. How magnificent is that! Praise be to GOD for His matchless power!
God grieves.
Matt 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”
God rejoices.
Matt. 18:13 “And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.”
He loves.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”
He waits.
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
What a wonderful God we serve...!