Children. When most women are growing up, they dream of raising a family. These dreams often include picnics, laughter and hugs and let's face it, running along the beach hand in hand. They definitely do not include a call from the school saying, "Mam, this is your daughter's school. We have a little problem. She is stuck in her jacket and starting to panic..." Not one of the best moments in a long list of phone calls from the schools over the years. As I deal with the delima at hand, I am reminded to laugh as I say, "only my child".
Today, I was privy to a little slice of heaven as my sister gave birth to her 5th child. That moment that I capture with each delivery of a new baby when the mother "meets" the child for the first time and that bond is formed that is so precious to both for their entire lives is something I never fail to keep inside. The urge to just belly sob fortunately has been reigned in over the years and I simply pray that the bond never fades as usually a tear escapes and is quickly wiped away.
As I instructed the school to cut my daughter out of her jacket recently and spoke with her to calm her down, I was aware that I will always be a voice of reason in her life. I am reminded that the Father loves us with such perfect love as he cuts us from the "jacket" of sin and sets us free. When we say "only my child!" our Father is saying, "my child!" Because, try as we may, we can never fathom or capture the Love He has for us. I love Psalm 13913-15, "You made all the delicate inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother's womb. You were there while I was in utter seclusion!" This verse gives me that same feeling in my belly as that moment with baby and mom.....BEFORE you were, He loved you.
The best gift we can give to our kids is the love of Christ which will sustain them beyond what love we have for them. As we enjoy these gifts from God, remind yourself that He loves them before we do and more than we do!