Great Delight

I love this picture of me and Oliver.  He was four months old, and making me laugh by nuzzling his sweet little face into my cheek.  I love the intimacy that the photo shows, the unspoken communication of love and sweetness, the delight. 

I came across a verse from Zephaniah, of all books, the other day (3:17):

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

I read this and thought about our sweetest moments together, me and my son: when Oliver quiets when I sing to him.  The little hand that goes pat-pat, pat-pat on my back when I rock him to sleep.  The unreplicated feeling of his sweet little breath into my neck, the weight of his head on my shoulder.  That intimacy, that trust.

And this is one little slice of how God feels about us.  He quiets us with his love when we are restless. Hold us close.  He delights in us, greatly, and rejoices over us with singing, just as I sing to my little boy. 

Lord, Abba, thank you for being my Father.  Teach me to come to you for rest, to seek quiet, to be still.  Remind me to rest my weary head on Your shoulder, to know Your closeness and remember your delight for me.  Thank you for loving me as Your child.  Amen.