Loved

After several days of celebrating, I woke up this morning ready to get things back in a bit of order around here. New toys needed to find homes. Filing needed to be done so that my year end records would be in order for tax preparation. The pressure of a new year and a need to start things off right was settling in.

My husband and I agreed to give each other 90 uninterrupted minutes (i.e., children would be the other's complete responsibility) so we could satisfy our mutual need for productivity.

I decided to tackle our home office--as I have gotten a few months behind on filing important paperwork. In my "To Read" file I found a ripped, tattered piece of paper I vaguely remember. Based on the handwritten notes on the back re: paying rent, I am convinced it is at least 7-8 years old.

I have been searching for something meaningful for the teen aged girls at the children's home--and this spoke to my self-critical heart as well. It seemed like an incredibly fitting way to start this new year. I really wish I knew who authored this paraphrase so I could credit them, but a quick google search revealed nothing.

I made her. She is different. She's unique. With love I formed her in her mother's womb. I fashioned her with great joy. I remember with great pleasure the day I created her. (Psalm 139:13-16)

I love her smile. I love her ways. I love to hear her laugh and the silly things she says and does. She brings me great pleasure. (Psalm 139:17)

I made her pretty and not beautiful, because I knew her heart and knew she would be vain. I wanted her to search out her heart and to learn it would be Me in her that would make her beautiful and would draw friends to her. (I Peter 3:3-5)

I made her in such a way that she would need Me. I made her a little more lonesome than she would like to be, only because I want her to turn to Me in her loneliness. Only because I need for her to lean to and depend on Me. I know her heart. I know if I had not made her like this she would go her own way and forget about Me, her Creator. (Psalm 62:5-8)

I have given her many good and happy things because I love her. (Psalm 84:11 and Romans 8:32)

Because I love her, I have seen her broken heart and the tears she has cried alone. I have cried with her and had a broken heart too. (Psalm 56:8)

Many times she has stumbled and fallen alone, only because she would not hold My Hand. So many lessons she has learned the hard way, because she would not listen to My Voice. (Isaiah 53:6)

She is mine. I made her then I bought her because I love her. (Romans 5:8)

I have to reshape and remold her, to renew in her what I want her to be. It has not been easy for her or for me. (Jeremiah 29:11)

I want her to be conformed to My Image. This high goal I have set for her because I love her. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

Believe it and be blessed!