We have a certain one-year-old granddaughter who has a knack of getting her own way—especially with her Nanna! Yes, our Maxine can now walk or climb or even run places. But sometimes it’s a different story. Sometimes she decides she wants to be picked up and carried—or simply held and cuddled, cheek to cheek, to her heart’s content!
At times, I can be working in the kitchen when she will come around the corner, whimpering a little, arms raised. Whatever I’m doing, she wants to be up there with me, seeing what is happening or merely being held. And when I try to meet her eyes, she carefully averts them, as if to say ‘There’s nothing wrong—I just wanted to be picked up! And I got my way—yay!’
There is one problem, however. I have yet to perfect the art of picking up Maxine in a way that does not damage my back any further. Yes, I know one is supposed to use one’s knees rather than bend at the waist. But … well, in the heat of the moment, I tend to forget. I bend and lift and bend and lift because … well, this is my granddaughter we’re talking about! Besides, she’s just so cute and cuddly!
There’s a lot of bending down involved in caring for young children, isn’t there? If it’s not picking them up, it’s getting them into car seats or helping take their shoes off or changing nappies or tidying up toys or cleaning up messes or doing any number of other tasks. One day they will be able to look after themselves—but not quite yet.
It was perhaps because of all this that I particularly noticed some beautiful, poetic words in Hosea 11:1-4 this past week about God’s amazing love for the children of Israel. God called them out of Egypt, strengthening them, teaching them and healing them so they could stand on their own two feet. Yet they still went astray and worshipped other gods. In verses 3-4, we read:
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.
What beautiful images these are of God’s ‘bending down’, as it were, in order to offer such patient nurturing to these Israelites! Here is God, the Creator and Lord of the Universe, pouring out such love on them, leading them to the Promised Land, setting them free, going to great lengths to feed them. And surely this is the same heart God still longs to show to each of us as we journey through life? How many times does God bend down to pick me up on a daily basis, hold me close, clean me up, set me on my feet again and help me walk forward in much greater freedom?
I hope I never take for granted God’s patient, loving nurture of me. This week, every time I bend down to pick up Maxine or care for her in some other way, may I remember to thank God for doing the same—and more—for me.
I’ve never read that passage with those thoughts Jo-Anne, your insight gives us a beautiful image of our father God
I’m glad you think so too, Leanne. I just felt God’s deep sadness for his children and his longing to bless and heal us and care for us so much in that passage. What an amazing God we have!
Jo-Anne, I agree with Leanne—you’ve painted a loving portrait of our heavenly Father. Your granddaughter is adorable (I followed your link from the ICFW blog).
Blessings ~ Wendy ❀
Hi Wendy–thanks so much for dropping by my blog from the ICFW blog. I have often wondered if anyone does that and now you have shown me they do. And yes, we too think our granddaughter is a bit cute! As for writing about our heavenly Father’s love, this is something I never tire of doing – it is one of the strong themes in all my novels and also in my memoir ‘Soul Friend’. And how blessed we are to be able to write about it! Thanks for your encouragement, Wendy–God bless you too!
I never doubt our Abba Fathers constant Love for us Jo- Anne or accuse Him of evil as some do claiming it is for our good that He afflicts us and causes us to suffer.
Lamentations 3:33 For God doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
God tells us as you confirmed with Scripture too Jo- Anne, that we are precious to Him and when He lifts us up we never fall down, even when the Storms thunder in our lives. Isaiah 43:1-3
My message this week reflects yours Jo- Anne, how wonderful The Godhead is, They do not plan evil for us but good, I raise my arms with yours to be picked up.
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Christian Love in Christ Jesus – Anne.
So true, Anne–and I love the song ‘You Raise Me Up’ too. Also loved those last words you wrote – ‘I raise my arms with yours to be picked up’. Beautiful!