I usually begin my day by having a quiet time. I have a cup of coffee and settle in with some devotional books, a journal and my Bible. However, I use the term “quiet” time rather loosely. In reality, with seven children still at home, it is more like a parade.
I can almost set my watch to the interruptions, it is about every 4-5 minutes. Most of the children simply come in, ask a question and then leave, but the baby of the family has me, (and everyone else) wrapped around her finger. She comes in looking all cute and cuddly and worms her way onto my lap. She is fairly quiet, so I am usually able to continue reading. She does have a self-appointed job though. When I get to my prayer journal, she holds my heart.
One of my Bible study leaders made each of us a prayer bookmark with all of our names on it so we would remember to keep each other in daily prayer. She decorated it with a puffy heart sticker. To a five year-old this is just wonderful. She loves to look at all the names on the list and feel the smooth, raised sticker. Every morning she invariably asks to hold my heart.
She of course does not know how true that statement is. As much as it is my job as a mother to protect, nurture and guide my children’s hearts, each one of them in their own unique way, holds mine.
This is the beautiful and sometimes painful part of being a parent. We literally give a piece of ourselves to our children and then trust that God will guide, protect and lead them. First to Himself and then to whatever they are called to do in their lives.
I am so thankful that I can trust God with my children’s hearts and also with my own. He is the perfect parent and the best holder of all of our hearts.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
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