But for now I just want to share a picture of something the Lord gave me the other day. I was staying with one of my dear friends the other nights, helping out with my favorite little people while her husband was out of town. She recently had this little man, Judson Christopher...
Side note: I never could have imagined how much I would love being "Aunt Ashley" to this little man...he is precious and already has me wrapped around his finger. Anyways...back to the blog :) The other night, Steph woke up to feed him in the middle of the night and as I drifted in and out of sleep, I felt the Lord reminding me of some of the characteristics of the kind of Father He is- nurturing, caring and loving. I'll just share what I wrote the next day in my journal. I hope it encourages you as you read and think about the Father He is or wants to be to you...
It was around 2 or 3 am probably when Judson started stirring. He whimpered for a few minutes then started crying out- clearly, he was hungry. Steph heard his cry and woke. She started speaking really tenderly to him and she leaned over his bassinet to pick him up. She pulled him in close and began feeding him. I wish there was a way to input sounds in my journal- you would have thought he had never eaten before, when in reality he had eaten just a few hours before. After he was finished eating, she burped him then laid him back down, reminding him how much she loves and likes him. Peacefully, he went back to sleep.
As I laid there, half-asleep, listening in and out to this whole process, I felt the Lord gently reminding me that He does the same with His kids. One thing is different though- He never sleeps- He is always ready and alert (not that it was bad Steph was sleeping...mama of 3, she needs it :) ). I was imagining Jesus just sitting watching us sleep, waiting for us to wake up and realize how hungry and in need of Him we are. He will see us stirring and often wait for us to cry out, in faith, acknowledging we are hungry and know that He will hear our cry and respond- as He always does. He picks us up, speaks gently and tenderly to us, pulling us really close, all the while affirming and reminding us that He knows we are hungry and He will feed us. The second we really get a taste of what He gives, we drink it all in, almost forgetting He just fed us moments before. After the feeding, mothers always burp their babies to get the gas out- if not, the baby will often cry until it burps. In the same way, after we are fed, it's almost like going through a sifter. With the eating of what is good, we have to get rid of the junk- if not, it won't sit right and peace cannot abound. It takes some hard patting on the back and encouragement to get it out. Then gently, He places us back down, constantly reassuring us of His love and care and promises to always give us what we need.
What a tender, nurturing Father we have! Thank, you Lord for this reminder. Help me to understand this deeply.
I hope your week is sweet. Updates coming soon :)
Precious Ash. Thank you!
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