I had a rough morning keeping grandbabies this week. I had to snuggle under a warm blanket with sweet baby Nolan sleeping on my lap and four-year-old Ava tucked under my arm while we watched Tom and Jerry. I’m telling you, it was rough. Not!
Oh my goodness, I love my precious grandchildren. They fill my life with so much joy, and I love it when they come to visit.
Ava and I played Candyland while 10-month-old Nolan enjoyed some toys. I’m not exactly sure how we accomplished it, but according to her, we both won the game. Sounds like a plan to me.
She enjoyed a snack while I fed Nolan his bottle and then she fixed pretend tea and served it to me in grand style. Ava informed me that she was the mama and I was her child. As she walked out of the room, she turned with an authoritative air and said, “Be good while I’m gone, Sweetie.” Her imagination is so much fun.
While she played, I watched Nolan as he crawled around on the floor. He’s mastered it and has picked up some speed now. I was amazed at how quickly he made it from room to room. He stopped at the glass doors in the kitchen and sat down, his attention caught by the squirrels playing tag on the deck and the goldfinches sitting on the railing. He sat totally still, his big blue eyes sparkling as he watched them.
And my eyes misted with tears as I looked at that baby boy, because he reminds me so much of his daddy at that same age, bringing back cherished memories of Jason as he watched the birds and squirrels through those same glass doors. Precious times.
Ava’s reached the age where she’s becoming more and more independent. She can now do many things for herself. Nolan’s young enough where he’s still dependent on others to feed him, change him, and make sure he doesn’t get hurt as he becomes more and more mobile.
He’s just recently started pulling up on things and standing. You can see the pride on his little face when he accomplishes it. This week I watched him pull up and stand at the coffee table and then at the couch. I’d already gone ahead of him and moved a lightweight table so it wouldn’t topple on him.
And then I had to rush across the room when he grabbed the handle of his car seat. I could tell Nolan was going to try to stand, but the seat was wobbling back and forth. It wasn’t sturdy enough for him to stand and hold onto without my helping him, and I was afraid he was going to get hurt.
And then God whispered to me and said, “That’s just like you so many times. You aren’t mature enough spiritually or strong enough to stand on your own without my help and support.”
READ MORE: DON’T MISS OUT ON THE BLESSING
I’m so grateful I can go through life holding on to Him, standing on the promises that He’s given to me…and to you.
Sweet friends, are you going through a hard time today? Is your faith weak or are you so overwhelmed that you feel like you’re wobbling?
There’s no better time to stand on His promises:
- Are you burdened?
He says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)
- Are you afraid?
He says, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
- Do you feel like nobody cares about you?
He says, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7)
- Do you need peace?
He says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
- Do you need direction?
He says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye.” (Psalm 32:8)
I could go on and on about His sweet promises to us. Just like I took that heated blanket and wrapped it around my precious grandbabies, our loving Father wraps His arms of love around us whenever we need Him.
Just like I went ahead of my littlest buddy and cleared things from his path that would be harmful to him, God goes ahead of us. And just like I provided support for Nolan so he could stand safely, God stands with us and provides His strength, giving us precious promises for each moment of our lives.
Just like I watched little Nolan sitting at the glass doors enjoying the birds and squirrels and remembered his daddy watching them when he was a toddler, I can look back through the years and remember time after time when God’s promises were tried and proven for family members who came before me.
I’m standing on the promises He gave me today and I’m so grateful that those promises will be there for all of us in the future. How about you?
And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed. (Joshua 23:14)
