in her Father's arms

Before we moved, when Parker was already working in another state

and coming home on weekends,

he would get home late on Friday nights.

He couldn't ever resist going in and picking up his sleeping baby girl,

to love on her, and to just hold her in his arms.

I snapped this picture one night watching him hold her on the monitor.

This picture speaks to me about the love our Heavenly Father has for us,

and the comfort we can find in His arms.

"I will lie down in peace and sleep,

for you alone O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

Psalm 4:8

There is something so incredible and comforting of a father's arms and touch.

I wish that physical memory would allow us to recall

what it felt like to be held by our fathers as infants.

It must feel so safe.

Whether we had a physical father around us or not,

I am beyond thankful for the Father who is there,

who is willing to be our Daddy,

our Protector, our Provider, our Security.

I want to REST in that.

I want to "lie in peace, and sleep" knowing that

He ALWAYS has me in His arms.

And I want to always take comfort in knowing that He is that same Father

to Abigail. to my little girl.

That when she needs comforting, she has just as much access to Him as I do.

I pray daily and nightly that she would KNOW that,

that she would know and feel His touch.

A few days ago, Abigail was reaching for her lovie,

while I was reaching to get a bow right next to her,

and she flipped off the diaper table.

She was physically ok, but definitely scared.

(I was too).

God allowed me to catch her head in my hands before it hit the floor.

I don't know how that happened...

its like He just have me the reflexes to catch her in slow motion.

I dropped her off at MDO a little later and

began to work through my own fear that had entered from her fall.

All kinds of lies like "you should've done better",

"what if she had broken her neck?"

"what if she had hit her head?"

It was a battle to trust Him that He had her in His arms at that moment,

and He will at every moment.

I had finally found some peace, when I got a call from her school saying she had fallen on the playground and had hit her head.

just what I needed, I thought to myself.

well, yes it WAS what I needed.

To trust God AGAIN that He HAS her in HIS arms.

that He will protect her,

and that HIS plan for her is best.

She has a huge bruise on her head now, poor baby, but she is ok.

Parker was able to run across the street from his office to love on her after they called,

which was such a blessing.

She woke up last night, very abnormal for her,

crying and scared, like she has before when a sound or something has scared her.

I am convinced that the memory of her falls the day before allowed fear to come into her mind and she was having a bad dream.

I scooped her up and rocked her for a while.

She wouldn't calm, until I began to pray out loud over her,

against fear and for peace and rest.

she immediately relaxed and went to sleep in my arms.

Just as she needed the reassurance of loving, strong arms

to hold her when she is scared or hurt,

we do too.

We need to know DAILY the arms that hold us.

and the arms that hold our children too.

They make us dwell in safety,

Those arms allow us to rest in peace.