Our family (my husband and children), visited my twin sister and her husband this past weekend. They live a few hours away, and a month ago now my sister delivered her first baby, a girl they named Kadence Marie. It was our first time meeting this little miracle! We brought a meal to share, and spent the day at their house. I was going to pack a game to play or some blocks for the kids, but in the end I didn’t. It wasn’t necessary: the new baby was entertainment enough!
The moment we arrived and saw precious Kadence, we were enamored. She is a preemie, so tiny, just over four pounds now. I had never seen a baby so pint-sized, and our children were in awe. At home, all of the kids love playing with their stuffed animals and dolls, dressing them up, changing their diapers, giving them pretend bottles, food, and putting their “babies” in for nap-time. Upon seeing Kadence, they kept repeating, “She’s real, she looks like a doll, but she’s alive!”
Our visit centered around taking care of this sweet new baby all day. Each of our kids had a turn at feeding her a bottle, holding her, burping her, holding out a finger for her to grasp, and kissing her tender little head. I got diaper duty, fine by me! Every time Kadence was put in her crib to rest, the kids would go in countless times just to check on her, watch her breathing, and to make sure she was content. Even our youngest, Davin (only 2), was bringing bottles to Kadence in her crib and loved on her with kisses.
When it came time to leave, there was an ache in our hearts, not wanting to say goodbye, desiring to continue this loving, this caring. As we cared for Kadence, I knew we were also caring for my sister who is a hard-working and tired new mommy. Knowing we will be separated again, we are ultimately entrusting all the caring back to Our Heavenly Father.
Reflecting on our time reminded me of how God delights in caring for us. Do I even believe that? He truly enjoys taking care of us, providing for our every need, and answering the God-given desires of our hearts! I need those truths to wash over me daily. Jesus Himself said during his time on earth, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)
Believing God literally thinks about ME, takes care of ME, when on many days I feel like I’m doing all the caring, is wonderfully comforting. Psalm 139:16-17 speaks loud and clear, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!” God cares for us AND thinks of us all the time!
My boys especially love finding bugs outside, and every time little Davin even sees an ant he gets excited! Many times I feel like I am just an ant, just a nobody in this world and in God’s sight. It’s one thing to be humble, and it is true that in the universe we are physically very insignificant. Yet, in God’s eyes we are made in His image (Genesis 1:27), and that means we as human beings are reflections of Our Creator! Different attributes of God are in each of us, to develop and to showcase Him!
In The Bible, 1 Peter 5:7 states, “Cast all your anxiety on him because HE[God] cares for you.” I am significant and special to God, and He takes care of ME. When I feel like I just need a break, a change of pace, God knows. He hasn’t stopped providing for me or listening to me when I call. Usually He’s the One waiting on me to get to the end of my self-absorption and pity-parties so that I can once again THANK HIM for being MY Daddy, MY faithful caretaker.
It comes down to BELIEF and TRUST. If I believe God is a good father, then I know He really does take care of “little old me.” My last post was about music, and this song Good Good Father is another magnficient reminder of God as OUR ever-present, adoring father.
Let us be TREES of HOPE in this world, because The One who fills and nurtures us is an AMAZING Father! Let Him delight in taking care of YOU today. TRUST and BELIEVE He does.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Yes, Our Father loves us at all times. As you say, the way we love our children is a small picture to us of His never-ending love. THANK YOU for sharing, Katie. 🙂
Becoming a parent has helped me to know and understand God's love a little more deeply than I did before. We see our children at their worst or when they are most helpless, and yet that doesn't take away our love for them at all. The same is true even moreso of our Loving Father who exemplifies perfect love. Thank you sharing this truth.
Yes, it was a special bonding time with the new addition to our extended family. 🙂 Excited for the memories to come and for you to be a much bigger part of our lives very soon!
Crystal,
Your words are always so relevant and full of truth! I agree that even our culture in the United States points us back to ourselves or others, rather than to God, when it comes to caring and providing. The passage in Matthew about God caring for the birds of the field and the lilies is profound; he takes care of it all, why are we going to doubt Him in our lives?
God bless you dear 🙂
Krystal She is so precious! I am glad you got a moment to share and connect with your sister and her family. It is a blessing to being able to love,laugh, care and share memorable moments with the people you love.
The kids seem to enjoy being around the baby! ❤️❤️❤️
Krystal I'm so glad you had such a nice time with your sister and meeting your niece! Those are beautiful photos you shared!
I love how this experience helped you to reflect on who is really caring for us. God is the creator of everything and He is the provider of all. I tend to forget that sometimes too, or I used to think that I just need to rely on myself for getting through situations. I feel like that's definitely something that is sort of ingrained in me from our culture. In this country we are taught to make something of ourselves and take care of ourselves, without any regard for who is the provider of all. I continually have to guard against that tendency and shed those feelings by taking all my petitions and prayers to God first and seeking His direction. I find journaling is a great way for me to remember all that God has done for me, otherwise my mommy brain tends to forget :). For me I also love reading and praying Matthew 6:26-34 for speaking truth to myself in this area. God cares for all of creation, even the birds and the fields. But we are worth more to him than the birds and the field and we don't need to worry because he knows what we need and will provide all we need.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful time with your sister and for sharing this reminder about God's love and His provison.
I love your analogy of your child's outstretched arms towards you, and how we as moms feel that same way and need God to wrap us up in HIS! Congratulations to you on a little nephew coming soon, too! It is true, as you say, that babies take so much from us and yet God puts supernatural love in us towards them. So glad you enjoyed this post my dear, it means a lot when I hear that!
Aww Krystal, I love this post! Congrats on the addition to your family 🙂 My sister is expecting a little man any day now and I cant wait to travel out to meet him and also to see my kids reactions. God designed such an incredible system when he created the family. I am often overwhelmed by the depth of love and how it binds a family together. Babies take so much from us and use up so many of our resources and yet, our hearts are able to keep giving and giving because our love for them is unending. Sometimes when my 4 year old is tired and looks up at me with weary eyes and outstretched arms, I see myself. It is how I feel when I call out to God-like I just need Him to wrap me up in His arms and give me peace. Thank you for all the verses you mentioned-such beautiful reminders of how He loves us-it still gives me butterflies 🙂
Yes, it seems so basic but it isn't! It always comes back to the simple truths: faith, belief, and trust in the God who made us, who loves us unconditionally and takes care of our every need. He has it all under control, and yet how quickly we doubt Him. We need each other, testifying of His goodness when one of us is losing sight of who God is during the storms of life!
I couldn't agree more with your post Krystal. Thank you for sharing your inspiration and reminding me of WHO is my heavenly father – HE is the creator of this wonderful universe, HE cares about our needs and understand our weakness – I have to believe and trust Him!