Although I believe well grounded in the teachings of scripture, there is a phrase I love that is not a strict translation of Scripture: "God danced and sang on the day you were born." This is not a picture that comes to mind often. So much has been written about angry gods and pictures painted of vengeance-filled gods and much of that spills over into folks' ideas of God, Jesus and the Spirit of God.
Yesterday, when I had the breathtaking blessing of holding in my arms my hours-old newest grandchild, I was filled with joy and gratitude, both for this delightful new member of our family, and for the loving family into which he has been born. I transported his three siblings to meet him, children who had anticipated this day along with their parents for months. The look on their faces were one of those forever memories that fill our hearts.
Please join me today as I thank my God who gave me this lovely reminder of how God loves us, rejoices over us, has plans for us, delights in us. We can't be perfect in this (especially when exploring babies create unexpected upsets in sleep deprived households) but we can aspire to it, work towards it, help others who are struggling to get the support they need to embrace this. Casseroles, or visits timed to let exhausted parents catch a nap, or simply words of encouragement, or the most gently worded comments that might inspire new ways of approaching challenges, and always reminders (and ensuing actions) that the family is being prayed for and loved and rejoiced over blesses the child, the household family, the extended family, the neighborhood, the community, the church...you get the idea.
So often yesterday after I had met this sweet little guy, I felt like singing and my heart was full of gratitude to the God who makes this seem small and fleeting when compared to God's eternal and perfect love of and rejoicing over me and over you.
Almighty God, we thank you for this newest member of the youngest generation in our extended family. We ask Your Spirit pour into their home and lives Your love and joy and hope all the days of their lives; giving them always ears to hear and eyes to see. We also remember those expectant parents who instead are dealing with a new normal as things did not go as they expected and ask Your tender care for them and their extended families. And we ask special care for children born to parents who are themselves so broken that they find it difficult to rejoice over anything. We ask Your special protection for these children and healing for their parents. You are so amazing, Lord of Love and Life. AMEN
The Lord your God is with you. The mighty One will save you. The Lord will be happy with you. You will rest in his love. He will sing and be joyful about you.” Zephaniah 3:17
Yesterday, when I had the breathtaking blessing of holding in my arms my hours-old newest grandchild, I was filled with joy and gratitude, both for this delightful new member of our family, and for the loving family into which he has been born. I transported his three siblings to meet him, children who had anticipated this day along with their parents for months. The look on their faces were one of those forever memories that fill our hearts.
Please join me today as I thank my God who gave me this lovely reminder of how God loves us, rejoices over us, has plans for us, delights in us. We can't be perfect in this (especially when exploring babies create unexpected upsets in sleep deprived households) but we can aspire to it, work towards it, help others who are struggling to get the support they need to embrace this. Casseroles, or visits timed to let exhausted parents catch a nap, or simply words of encouragement, or the most gently worded comments that might inspire new ways of approaching challenges, and always reminders (and ensuing actions) that the family is being prayed for and loved and rejoiced over blesses the child, the household family, the extended family, the neighborhood, the community, the church...you get the idea.
So often yesterday after I had met this sweet little guy, I felt like singing and my heart was full of gratitude to the God who makes this seem small and fleeting when compared to God's eternal and perfect love of and rejoicing over me and over you.
Almighty God, we thank you for this newest member of the youngest generation in our extended family. We ask Your Spirit pour into their home and lives Your love and joy and hope all the days of their lives; giving them always ears to hear and eyes to see. We also remember those expectant parents who instead are dealing with a new normal as things did not go as they expected and ask Your tender care for them and their extended families. And we ask special care for children born to parents who are themselves so broken that they find it difficult to rejoice over anything. We ask Your special protection for these children and healing for their parents. You are so amazing, Lord of Love and Life. AMEN
The Lord your God is with you. The mighty One will save you. The Lord will be happy with you. You will rest in his love. He will sing and be joyful about you.” Zephaniah 3:17
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