Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Apple of My Eye

There's this little man that I love a whole stinking lot. He's half hispanic, a quarter Korean, a quarter Caucasian, and all scrumptious. Yesterday Josiah turned 6 months old and I was so excited to see him and hold him - he's so big! Now I love him and his three cousins like they were my own niece and nephews because 1. I don't have any nieces or nephews and 2. Because I just love them! And this post is not to say that I love him above the rest. But yesterday there was just something special about that boy.


I remember back in September I was trying to tell Priscilla that she needed to have Josiah on my birthday, which is the 10th. But he wasn't due until the 17th-ish. Obviously, though, Josiah had a mind of his own and came early on the 5th. Everything was crazy for a bit that day as her mother was quickly flown in and I ran to the airport to pick her up. And then we waited until the wee hours of the morning for him to be born, but man was it worth the wait. There is something special about knowing a baby before he is born, being there at the moment of his birth, and celebrating with intimate friends and family his arrival. That boy is loved so much.

So yesterday. I was talking to Priscilla after our small group ended and she mentioned that she, Chris and Josiah are leaving Friday to go out of town and won't be back until next Saturday. And to be honest with you, I almost cried. I was a little surprised by my own reaction, but the truth is that I love that family. I love that little boy. I went out into the living room and fed him and snuggled him close for almost an hour without having to share and I just delighted in him. His laughter had my heart melting every few seconds and those special smiles just for me made me want to hand him the moon. Knowing that he knows who I am and that I love him makes me love him even more. Eventually I gave him to others, letting them love him, too.

Ok so ... for the spiritual parallel. (You were waiting for that, weren't you?) God knew me before I was born. In fact, He created me in my mother's womb. The moment I was born He rejoiced and kept on loving me (even though I was a stinky nasty mess.) Those times when I just relax against Him, when I just know that He loves me and that I love Hi, those are the times that He loves. He doesn't mind sharing us with others and letting us love others, because He knows that His love isn't going anywhere and if our love is grounded in Him ours isn't going anywhere, either. He loves to watch us delight in others, while knowing that He is the true source of joy. So knowing all of that, why is it that we still try to earn His love?

There are times that I make a mess and think that I have to clean myself up to meet His approval. But He doesn't see us like that. Yes, He wants us to wash off the nastiness, but He loves us through the process. Think of a baby. When Josiah came out he was covered in film that had to be washed off, but he was still loved. Chris didn't look at him and say "I'll love him when he is completely clean, but right now he's just gross." No! He loved him for who he is. No, he didn't want Josiah to stay dirty, because that would be sickening, but the fact that Josiah was a little dirty didn't diminish his love at all. Come to Him. Come to the Saviour. He LOVES you. And you are the apple of His eye.

"You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace." - SoS 4:9

"For You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." - Psa. 139:13

Happy 6 month birthday, Josiah!! I love you!

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