Startled by the silence, I shot up in bed and searched for blurry neon red lights that confirmed it was three in the morning, time to feed the baby. But Andrew, our then newborn son, hadn’t made a sound. Was something wrong? Or was he actually sleeping through the night?
Wavering between panic and joy, I felt my way down the hall to the nursery and leaned over my sweet baby’s crib. Listening for the sound of his breathing, I carefully rested my hand on his tiny chest to feel the gentle rhythm of its rising and falling.
Moonlight slipped through the blinds, helping me see he was perfectly fine.
Most sane mothers would have gone back to bed, but not me. I stood there for a while watching over and delighting in my child.
I desperately needed sleep. And I should have gone back to bed knowing Andrew might wake up any minute. But my desire to be with him erased all logic. I wanted to savor this quiet moment and overwhelming sense of love I felt for this little guy who set my days in motion with his cries and smiles.
Andrew developed a routine of sleeping through the night soon after, yet there were nights when I’d still sneak into his room because I wanted to be with him. To watch over him. And then I’d tiptoe into his big brother Joshua’s room and watch him slumber, too.
Looking at my children’s faces, I’d sometimes imagine the boys God was shaping them to become and I’d ask Him to calm their fears, fulfill their dreams, and establish their steps to follow His.
My sons are seventeen and nineteen now, but sometimes I go in their rooms to pray over them and watch them sleep. They aren’t doing anything to make me feel proud or happy. In fact, they may have even driven me to my wit’s end that day, but it doesn’t matter. I delight in them because they are mine.
Zephaniah 3:17 reminds us that God feels the exact same way about you and me.
“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”(NLT)
I don’t know about you, but I need to be reminded that God wants to be with me. He loves to watch over me – and {YOU}. Not because we are doing anything for Him, but simply because we are His.
Right now, in this moment, HE is watching over you with His love. He is there to quiet your fears, insecurities, and doubts each day….
KEEP READING HERE => I’m sharing more about God’s love for us over on the (in)Courage blog. I’d love for you to join me there and share your thoughts!