I was holding a cup of hot tea, my house was completly quiet except for the fan spinning a cool breeze on me, as I sat on the couch. I love that time before the sun is up, before the hustle bustle of the day; those few moments before packing lunches, making breakfast, organizing to do lists, and yes, checking FaceBook; those few moments before it's "mom...mom...mom...!"
I was reading Psalm 3 and the imagery jumped off the page! (love when that happens)
"But you, Oh Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, the lifter of my head." PSALM 3:3
"The lifter of my head".
As a mom and a teacher it is not uncommon to see a young child with his or her head down- chin to chest, eyes on the floor. There can be so many reasons why: shame or guilt, fear, fustration, self-pity, embarrasment, defeat, procrastination, defience or rebellion, grief...I suppose those are just a few.
There can be a great moment when you place your hand under a child's chin and lovingly, gently lift it so that their eyes raise to meet yours. It can be a powerful moment where you connect hearts. A moment where there is an oppertunity to tell the child even without words:
"I love you." " You are important." "Let's work through this."
Yes, that's it. God is the "lifter of my head". He places His Almightly loving hands under my chin and raises it up. Our eyes meet. My heart is filled with His love, protection, encouragement, forgiveness, trust, confidence, clarity, humility. He is my sheild, my glory, in a hustly, bustly, demanding world!
Then of course, if you haven't already thought of it, there are those many times when a child refuses to lift his or her head. Refuses to make eye contact. Refuses you.
Well, our hearts do this too. We don't want to raise our chin or to make eye contact with our Savior. We don't want to recieve what God is offering. There are so many reasons. Maybe it is because we like where we are even if it is not constructive, even if it is harmful. It is just plain easier. Other times our way seems so much better! At least the outcome is predictable. Sometimes, we don't feel we deserve our chin lifted and the relationship to be restored. After all, there is a reason we have our heads hung and our eyes downcast in the first place! We say, "Not By My Chinny Chin Chin!" I am fine.
It is my prayer that I can model God's love by first letting the Lord be the "lifter of MY chinny chin chin" and then to be a "chin lifter" for my children and the other precious little ones in my life. Will you join me?
I was reading Psalm 3 and the imagery jumped off the page! (love when that happens)
"But you, Oh Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, the lifter of my head." PSALM 3:3
"The lifter of my head".
As a mom and a teacher it is not uncommon to see a young child with his or her head down- chin to chest, eyes on the floor. There can be so many reasons why: shame or guilt, fear, fustration, self-pity, embarrasment, defeat, procrastination, defience or rebellion, grief...I suppose those are just a few.
There can be a great moment when you place your hand under a child's chin and lovingly, gently lift it so that their eyes raise to meet yours. It can be a powerful moment where you connect hearts. A moment where there is an oppertunity to tell the child even without words:
"I love you." " You are important." "Let's work through this."
Yes, that's it. God is the "lifter of my head". He places His Almightly loving hands under my chin and raises it up. Our eyes meet. My heart is filled with His love, protection, encouragement, forgiveness, trust, confidence, clarity, humility. He is my sheild, my glory, in a hustly, bustly, demanding world!
Then of course, if you haven't already thought of it, there are those many times when a child refuses to lift his or her head. Refuses to make eye contact. Refuses you.
Well, our hearts do this too. We don't want to raise our chin or to make eye contact with our Savior. We don't want to recieve what God is offering. There are so many reasons. Maybe it is because we like where we are even if it is not constructive, even if it is harmful. It is just plain easier. Other times our way seems so much better! At least the outcome is predictable. Sometimes, we don't feel we deserve our chin lifted and the relationship to be restored. After all, there is a reason we have our heads hung and our eyes downcast in the first place! We say, "Not By My Chinny Chin Chin!" I am fine.
It is my prayer that I can model God's love by first letting the Lord be the "lifter of MY chinny chin chin" and then to be a "chin lifter" for my children and the other precious little ones in my life. Will you join me?
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