~ written by Connie Dunmyer
This twirling scene from “You’ve Got Mail” is a favorite of my youngest daughter’s. She was always a twirler. Today she twirls with her own daughter. What are the things you learned as a child, that you carry with you today? They may be good lessons. Happy memories – like twirling or dancing with your parent. Maybe fishing with a grandparent. Perhaps a song that you’ll never forget.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (ESV) You’ve probably heard it said “when he is old he will come back to it.” But that’s not what the scripture says. It says “he will not depart from it.” To be sure, there are plenty of people brought up in the church, and in Christian households, who have left God out of their lives. However, I believe that even in their wandering, what they learned is still inside, just waiting to be reawakened. It’s like we talked about before, perhaps they are “mad at God”, and thus they choose to ignore.
The things we learn as children, we do somehow draw back upon as aging adults. Lately my mind has been filled with youthful teachings. God’s truth is truth – no matter the age. God’s comfort – God’s blessings – God’s commands – still the same. If we but hold onto these things, as His little ones, God bids us come unto Him “as a child”.
Matthew 18: 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Think of a baby. A baby has no understanding of time. He only knows the pain hunger brings, but has no concept of how that pain will stop. Eventually as the baby grows, there is trust that his parent will provide food so he will not have that hunger pain.
Think of a child. She has no concept of what it takes to have or keep a house, or food, or toys. There’s no concept of work and money. She only knows that she has a need of her parent – for love, for playing, for eating. But she does not know how it works.
Even as youth and young adults, we can’t always connect the dots. For instance, I have this favorite story of my eldest daughter. We were visiting the college she would ultimately attend. And as they took us on the tour, they took us to the various engineering buildings and showed us from room to room and talked about all the things that would be taught. When we walked out of the last building, in a panic she grabbed us to the side and with all seriousness and even tears in her eyes said “I can’t do this. I can’t come here. I don’t know ANY of this stuff!!” Well, her dad and I burst into laughter. We were not laughing at her – but at the idea that she thought she needed to know these things BEFORE she was taught these things. And now she teaches these very philosophical thoughts to her own children.
I think there must be times when God looks at us and just has a good laugh. As we fuss and worry, as we look at our problems and say "I can't do this" - He must be like “Oh you silly girl. Don’t you know I’ve already taken care of this? Haven’t I always taken care of you? You don’t need to know how to do this. We’ll do it together. Trust that I'm teaching and leading you.”
Other times I think to myself, no wonder He sings over us. Sometimes it’s because He just loves watching us grow. Sometimes it’s because we’re just being silly with our worries and concerns. Sometimes it’s to comfort and soothe us, like a lullaby. But always, ALWAYS, He sings over us in love and rejoicing. Permit me to repeat a verse I’ve used before – it’s one of my very favorites:
“The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you.
He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
Imagine it:
God is actually WITH me. The Creator of the universe, with me.
God is strong enough to save and help. I’m not on my own.
God delights in me! He actually takes pleasure in me.
God quiets and calms my fears with His tenderness and love.
And God sings!! Because He rejoices over me – over US!!
Psalm 62: 11 One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: that You, O God, are strong, 12 and that you, O Lord, are loving.
Two years ago, God gave me this verse. He called me to lay my head upon His chest, to hear and feel His own heartbeat. And in so doing, to know and own these two things:
- That God is strong. He is all-powerful. There is NOTHING too hard for Him. There is NO ONE stronger than Him. No ruler, no authority, no power or principality of darkness, no evil force.
- And that God is loving. Perfect and true. Not only CAN He save us (He can do anything) – but He loves enough to do so. His love knows no bounds. Whatever He does for us, or allows us to go through, is ENTIRELY because He loves us so much.
Again, think of a child. You are God’s child. As human parents, we may not always be strong or even perfectly loving – But God Is! Always and forever.
So today, as you go throughout your day, remind yourself that you are a child. And not just anyone’s child – but the son or daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Lay your head upon the Father’s chest and hear His heartbeat.
Then take some time to listen to the Father sing over you. It may be a lullaby of comfort. Or it may be a song for dancing. Twirl with Jesus! Yes – literally. Pick a place (alone or with your kids) and imagine His arms around you – and just twirl.
It’s important to remember just how much we are loved.
Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong.
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so!
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