A reflection on a Thursday

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, 

And have no compassion on the son of her womb?

Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. 

Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; 

Your walls are continually before me." --Isaiah 49:15-16

These verses are a great comfort to us all as we rest in the peace that comes from knowing our Heavenly Father loves us more closely than even the most dedicated mother could. As a mother who loves so fiercely, this rings true with me and brings me to a sober remembrance that He is God and I am not. I cannot help but think of the baby that we would have welcomed into our family this week and find rest that though we never knew the baby's sex or name, God knew from conception. He knew and He loved and He numbered that child's days and was faithful. As much as Lance and I think and hope that we will always remember this little brief life, we KNOW that God will never forget. 

And with so much to be thankful for that God has already given, we look forward to learning to Trust Him more fully with the children He has entrusted to us. I heard a new mom put it this way, "I hope to continue to learn to hold loosely while loving lavishly," as she spoke of her newborn son. So very true. Blessed be the name of the Lord who not only takes away, but also GIVES.

Nine Months.

    It was NINE months ago this week that we packed up this truck and moved to Georgia. It just does not seem like it's been that long until I look at how much Lucy has changed. Lance and I realized we have been here for over 1/3 of Lucy's life. Speaking of Lucy, Lance and I would both agree that of the three of us, she is the only member of our family that has the right perspective. More on that in a moment.

     For all that we went through getting to this stage of moving, getting a job, settling down, I have to be  honest and say that it's been H-A-R-D to adjust. Really. Downright difficult many days. I cringe even as I write this because I know so many of you reading it are the ones who faithfully prayed with us and encouraged us as we waited for God to open a door and move us. And then in His perfect timing He did, and here we are. And we have never doubted that HE moved us and we are in HIS will to be here. But in our own human weakness, we have struggled with making it Home. Sure, we've bought a home and made it our own--and we love it, but if we're being honest,(and apparently I am) it's not easy to settle.

    You know how people always say that the place where you start your life will always hold a "special place" in your heart? Well, for us, that is doubly true. For me Wake Forest was not only the first place I lived outside of my parents roof but also the place I formed many friendships, not to mention the place I became a girlfriend, a fiancee, a best friend, a wife, and a mother once I met Lance. Yes, I guess you could say it has a special place in my heart. Most days, as I try to give this new city my all in energy and heart, that "special place in my heart" becomes a huge lump in my throat. But we're trying. And more importantly, we are TRUSTING. God has blessed us so here and we are helping each other focus on those blessings and the knowledge that He has a plan for us here. And far be it from us to stand in the way.

   Lucy, on the other hand has had it down pat from day one. She never questioned us when we packed up her toys & moved them several states away to a quaint little townhouse in Georgia... and then again four months later when we moved her and all her stuff to a house down the road. And from the day after we moved in, when we pull up in the driveway, she says "HOME!! We're HOME!!!" Then a few months later, when we had the house painted, she began saying "BLUE HOME!! We're HOME!!" Amazing how she accepts everything with the joy and faith of a child and doesn't say, "Umm.. are you SURE we live here now? Mom?? Dad?? Because, this sure doesn't feel familiar."

Huh. My Two year old GETS it. Better than I do.

Oh, that I would trust my Heavenly Father the way she skips happily along, trusting us. Completely secure. Completely at peace. Completely LOVING today. I hope I will be just like her when I grow up.

And now, for those of you who have stuck with me and read this far, a little smile for you, because you've earned it.