If you are one of my faithful, weekly readers I am sure you recall reading that I enjoy holding little ones. The last two summers I have had the honor of holding two different foster babies from a family on my son’s travel baseball team.
There is just something very special about loving these precious children. As I just shared once again with the foster mom, it just makes me feel closer to God when I encounter these children. Actually, it is probably a close second to my first happy place of being at the beach soaking up God’s presence all around me.
Last year I was honored to often hold the foster parent’s sweet little boy, with his blonde hair and big blue eyes, trying to give them a little break so they could concentrate on watching their older son play baseball. The best times for me are when the babies will just snuggle up, being so comfortable and cozy, falling asleep on my chest…feeling them breathe so peacefully.
Holding my sleeping grand-nephew!
This year the little girl they have is just so angelic looking. She has the most beautiful, squeezable cheeks and most perfect lips. Her dark, curly hair and big brown eyes just melt my heart. Her peaceful demeanor just adds to her angelic aura.
As I interact with these beautiful children that God created I think about how special it is that there are people willing to foster or adopt these children who are in need. What a blessing that there are those who have the love and means to help those who due to whatever special circumstances can not take care of their children. They want the best for them and sometimes that means letting someone else care for the children. What a very tough decision that must be. We should support them and their decision in the best possible way we can as well as assist those who care for any of God’s children, whether young or old.
In awe of my newborn grand-niece.
What do I experience or think about as I see and hold these beautiful babies?
–How pure and innocent they are
–How the little ones make so many people smile and love on them
–How angelic and truly beautiful they are
–How they rely on adults for all their needs until they are older
–How they can be soothed with a warm embrace or rubbing their back
–How we feel unconditional love for them
–How they can rest so peacefully wrapped in our arms
–How easy it is to love them
–How we can see God’s reflection in them!
Interacting with these two children has also made me think about how God, our Father, views us.
Have you thought about how YOU are God’s adopted son/daughter?
What a powerful thought to ponder and reflect on!
He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons/daughters through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.
–Ephesians 1:5 (ESV)
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship/daughtership. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” –Romans 8:15 (NIV)
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons/daughters. And because you are sons/daughters, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son/daughter, and if a son/daughter, then an heir through God. –Galatians 4:4-7 (ESV)
Photo courtesy of Coram Deo “Living Before The Face of God” under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
I truly believe that all those feelings and emotions that I mentioned above that I experience (& hopefully you can relate to as well) when I see or hold these foster children are what God experiences too when He thinks of us!! How cool is that to think about?
Yes, I believe God….
…sees how pure and innocent we are
…smiles and loves us so
…sees our angelic and beautiful selves that He created
…wants us to rely on Him for everything
…has His loving arms outstretched to embrace us
…only has unconditional love for us no matter what we do
…wants us to rest peacefully in His arms even during the storms of life
…looks at us with great love
…sees His reflection when He looks at us!
Keep in mind this week how YOU are God’s adopted son/daughter, even made in His image and likeness! God’s love for you is everlasting and unconditional!
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. –Genesis 1:27 (ESV)
Long ago the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. –Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him –1 John 3:1 (NLT)
