A Father's Love

The sun is shining, the skies are blue and tiny purple hyacinth heads are popping up outside in my front yard. Harbingers of spring and harbingers of Hope!

To the right is a picture of my son, Raney, holding his two daughters as the sunlight bounces in on all of them and reflects the love, peace and the sense of protectiveness present... This kind of love- holding on to new life, tiny children, a ginger haired, pink hat 3 year-old--- is too precious, too beautiful, too much to even watch at times...

When we love, we are so vulnerable and I see his vulnerability. I know that vulnerability deep in my bones. I have lived with it for many years, and will continue to, I hope and pray- because loving deeply -requires this picture of vulnerability.

I am studying Psalm 131 today: O Lord, my heart is not lifted up,

my eyes are not raised too high;

I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.

O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time one and forevermore.

The image of God as Mother- as Parent who holds on to us--- indeed like this- softly yet fiercely- gives me hope today on this sunny day.