The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
Today it is one year since the Lord brought Gabriel, our first grandchild into our lives. I apologize to my Facebook friends for the many pictures posted of him over this past year. I know I have been like a crazy woman! But after everything Richard and I have encountered in our journey there is at least one thing we have learned–Not to take ANYTHING for granted! And so with every smile, giggle, clap and step he took, our heart rejoiced! And I could not contain it!
Before I continue, I would like to preface the rest of this post with this sentiment, ALL of our children are such a beautiful gift from God. Our older daughters have a heart of gold! The way they love people so selflessly blesses my heart to no end. Their encouragement, strength, humor and help have sustained me often. Our youngest two have brought no less joy into our lives. If you have known me long, you know this. In this journey of parenting children with disabilities we have found treasures in the darkness. (Isaiah 45:3) Oh the unexpected laughter and delight. They have taught me to dance in the rain! I recently announced to a group of women at a conference I spoke at that I had officially changed my life verse from Proverbs 11:22 NIV:
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
to Psalm 65:11 NLT:
You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
God is growing me up! 🙂
On this side of heaven all of us will encounter hardships but we MUST find the bounty that is there even in the hard pathways. It is there. It becomes easier to see it the more you look for it.
But today this post is about Gabriel. Watching him grow and develop this past year has been such a wonderful gift. It has been a Refresher Course in the Father Heart of God. I learned about it when my own children were growing up but somehow as I grew older I had forgotten.
When I sing to Gabe as I rock him to sleep it reminds me how tenderly our Heavenly Father embraces us and sings over us. Zephaniah 3:17 (Coincidentally I sing to him The Father’s Song by Matt Redman. It’s the only song I can sing on key! The Father’s Song)
Just as I rejoice with laughter over every one of Gabe’s new developments, I imagine the applause of Heaven beckoning us on to new and bigger things in our spiritual development. Matthew 5:1-9
The relief I feel when I warn Gabe, “No” as he is about to do something that will hurt himself and he listens and obeys. I am inspired more intently to make choices that will not bring grief to the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30
This unconditional love for him that overwhelms me at times is just a smidgen of what The Father’s love is for each of us. Jeremiah 31:3
All this in just his first year of life! Thank you Dear Heavenly Father for this precious gift. LH
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Beautiful post as usual. Don’t apologize for posting your pictures of your grand baby. I know I enjoy going on that journey with you. Life is good….because God is good….and you are an example to those who cross your path.
Thanks Kim! I appreciate your kind words and your indulgence with my photo posting! It’s great to have friends who rejoice with those who rejoice! Couldn’t have said it better–Life is good because God is good!
Oh, Lisa, I LOVE every picture of Gabe! What joy and blessings he brings to the world. This is a beautiful Better Off Read, Thanks for sharing with the rest of us.
Vicki, thank you so much for your wonderful love and prayers that have been showered on this little guy!
The pictures are precious. Thanks for sharing.