I want to talk today about the gift of family and especially the gift of daughters--both being a daughter and having a daughter. If you know me, you may know I am also the daughter of a hard-working, loving mother and an abusive alcoholic father. But he was not my first father. I wrote that story years ago. If you want a copy, let me know and I'll email it to you.
But during my teenage years, there was healing for my heart in the discovery that I did have a Father who loved me. Then I met Him, my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus and my whole life was changed. He brought me into a relationship that will never end and never include any abuse or being left alone again. I went from an angry teenager to a loving one. The change so impacted my family that both my mom and sister gave their lives to follow Jesus, and He healed the wounds of a little girl's broken heart. I'm so grateful to know the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ.
If you know me, you also know I have an amazing daughter, Jenny Lynn, who lives across the street with her talented, loving three sons, Ethan, Isaac, and Joshua. These much-loved grandsons are spending lots of time with us during the corona daze--but that's for another posting.
Before we were even married we knew we wanted a Jenny Lynn. We didn’t know how much we would love and cherish her, this gift of love. She is my beautiful daughter and amazing mother (though I don't think she always believes it). I have marveled at the love and investment she has made in each boy and how much each boys loves and draws in to her. Maybe they drive her crazy sometimes, but there's always a strong love-bond that nothing breaks. It's in her mother-heart.
During this unprecedented time, Jenny comes over several times a day to check on us, to walk our pup Lillybelle (and walk her dad!), to check on what her boys are doing over here, to eat with us, or to provide help in whatever way she can. Now she's picked up helping us with shopping as we "at-risk older people" have been told to stay home and not go out except for walks outdoors (I never knew how much I would miss Aldi or Walmart!).
I could go on and on, but I hope you can see how incredibly grateful I am to be the daughter of my Heavenly Father and to have a daughter whose heart is so very big and whose love is so strong, for me and for so many others.
So here we are, with all of you, waiting for the daze to end. But this daughter is a never-ending gift in so many ways beyond the corona daze. From the moment she was born, I fell in love with her. I don't think she knows how much I love her. I hope one day she will and will know how much her Heavenly Father loves her too.
Today's poem-song-prayer is called "Never Alone." You can sing it to "Fairest Lord Jesus" if you know that tune.
Psalm 102:7-7: "I am like a desert owl,like an owl among the ruins. I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof."
Song of Solomon 8:6: Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.
John 16:32: "A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me."
Never Alone
Open my eyes to see,
To know and believe,
You are here with
me, and
That You'll never leave.
We are here together,
You
are here with me.
Stronger than death,
Your love, eternally.
You know all my fears,
Of always being left alone,
Finding my heart cold and
As lifeless as a stone.
Help me not to dance
With any other love.
Draw me, precious Savior,
Seal me, Heavenly Dove.
Place me like a seal
Over your strong heart.
Your love is strong as death,
Today is just the start.
We are here together,
You
are here with me.
Stronger than death,
One
eternally.
Beautiful!
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