One of may favorite times in the day (in fact, I may try to one up Tony just to get to experience this more!) is when I get Lauralei up from a nap. She is all snuggly, warm, and wants her Momma (or Daddy if he is getting her up). She wants to put her head on my shoulder and holds me tight. In fact, she kind of hangs on for dear life. She grips my T-shirt with one hand and rubs my arm with the other. She wraps her monkey legs around me. It.Is.Precious!! I want to make time stand still and hold on to that moment forever. I pay really close attention to all the details- how her hand feels on my arm, how her sweaty/bed head rests on my shoulder, how her sweet baby smell greats me (unless she has a dirty diaper- in which case, I try to forget the smell...).
There is another time of day that this hold-on-for-dear-life love fest happens. It's when she's scared. And, while my heart breaks because my sweet precious little girl is scared, my heart also soars because SHE WANTS ME!!! I help her feel better. Feel safer. Feel loved. I make it better. Whatever "it" happens to be at that moment. There is nothing more that I want to do as her momma than make it all better. And, as her Momma I can see the big picture. I can see that although it FEELS scary at the moment- she is really ok, and all will be well in a little bit. I really enjoy this love fest and being the best thing since sliced bread. (As a side note, I am only outdone by Tony. She has a thing for her daddy. The force is strong between them! It is a wonderful glorious thing that makes me love them both even more!)
After a little bit, her heart has been comforted, the scary thing is no longer scary, and she unwraps her legs, and loosens her grip and even asks to be put down to explore on her own. She sees what I knew all along- things are ok! And, while I know that this is coming. I know that this is healthy- she should feel safe without gripping me. But, oh man I dread it. My heart does not want to put her down.
One day this past week, as I was comforting her in a hold-on-for-dear-life love fest session- a light bulb went off. The Lord said to me (as He often does when I'm correcting, guiding, reprimanding my kiddos) that this a picture of how I should approach the throne of my Heavenly Father! That we should cling to Him, wrap our arms and heart around His word, put our monkey legs around His love. That we should only feel safe, secure, loved when we are holding on to the ROCK! This Rock should make all better. We must see Him as the One who makes all things good. And, to tell you the truth, I feel that I do this pretty well when I am scared. I usually run to Jesus first when things are headed into trouble. The danger zone sends me to Christ quickly. I'm on my knees and I'm gripping Him because I know that He is the only way things will be right. Safe. Better. He never fails. He comforts me, saves me, provides for me. And, just as I see the big picture with Lauralei, He sees the big (Really BIG) picture with me. He KNOWS that this is going to be ok. As my heart is comforted by His Love and Truth I start to loosen my grip. I feel better. I want to "get down and explore on my own". It's not a blatant thing. It's not an on-purpose thing. It's just a thing. And, I am convicted. Do you do this too? Are you guilty, as I am, of clinging to the Rock in the storms of life and letting go when things seem to be going well?
Another way of saying this is to ABIDE in HIM!
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15: 4-11 (ESV)
It's time for a change sisters! We must cling to the Rock at ALL times! We must learn to abide in Christ when things are bad AND when things are good. We must learn that He is first no matter what is going on around us. Can you imagine how much more we grieve Him when we go on our merry way - just as Lauralei does when she feels better? We say with our actions and our priorities- "Thanks for saving the day, I've got this now". It's hard to even type those words. They sound so ungrateful. So bratty. Let today be the day for change. Whether you are in a good place or a bad place- cling to the Rock. Whether things are fantastic or crap-tastic- cling to the Rock. It is in Him and from Him that all blessings flow- and all things are made better. When we abide in Him we find true Joy. True love. Apart from Him we can do nothing!
When we cling to the Rock we will find our safety and our security. In His truth and His love we can gain strength, passion, self esteem, and courage. It is from Christ that these traits come to be in our lives. They are the Fruits of His Spirit! And, they only come from Him. When we think (whether in words or in action or in priorities) that we have it all under control- we get way too big for our britches and go unwisely as if we are in control. Woe is me!
My dear friends, join me in clinging to the Rock. No matter what today or tomorrow brings. Remember to abide in Him. Cling to Him. It may be the best.day.ever (said in Rapunzel's voice from Tangled). Without clinging to Christ- abiding in Him - it does not matter.
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