What a comfort for the child of God... to see our heavenly Father express a part of His compassionate and loving character in the following way. If God feels at all toward me that which I feel toward my own nursing son, then I am truly blessed indeed.

Isaiah 49:15-16 NET

"Can a woman forget her baby who nurses at her breast? Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne? Even if mothers were to forget, I could never forget you! Look, I have inscribed your name on my palms..."

The other day, I was thinking about the overwhelming delight I experience in holding my sleeping child. I thought of all the trouble he had gotten himself into that day (climbing the stairs, eating dog food, pulling electrical cords, ...). I thought of all the giggles, the sweet requests as he babbled and pointed, and the times he said 'mama'. I am thoroughly delighted in him. As I look on him, I don't focus on his naughtiness. Why? I don't know. Rather, I experience pleasure just watching him change and grow and learn. Yet my greatest pleasure is to hold him while he rests in my arms. He isn't squirming to experience the curiosity nearest his gaze. He isn't testing the limits I've set for him. He isn't crying any more over temporary discomforts like the boundaries of his playpen or a wet diaper or that no one is giving him the attention he wants. He is at rest. He's so beautiful to look at when he's asleep. But what is better still is when he's awake and yet lies in my arms looking up at me... content and peaceful... and then he smiles and takes delight in my gazing back at him.

I think God is just amazing... that He would use an illustration of a mother's compassion and thought and feeling for her child to describe a part of His own character. The idea, that God's compassion and thoughts toward His child are more steadfast than my own best thoughts toward my child, is just plain amazing!

I think that I ought to focus a bit more on resting in Him, looking at Him, smiling, calling His name. My discomforts are temporary... they must be... because He is better to me than my best toward my child... and I don't ignore my child's cries or allow him to remain long in any place which brings him to tears. And though I can't always give my child what he wants when he wants it or release him to go just anywhere he pleases, I take no delight in his discomfort but rather, I delight in satisfying him and seeing him enjoy the things I have given him to occupy himself with.

And so I choose now to sit quietly, to occupy myself with what is right in front of me, and to softly call his name in my temporary discomforts. May my tears be few and may I bring my God pleasure.