Thought I'd just go ahead and throw that out there since it's literally been over a year since my last update.
Sorry about that.
But maybe you'll give me some slack when I show you why...
But back to the changes...I'd say she's changed a lot of things about me like:
How much sleep I get.
How long my showers are.
How I perceive late people (since I'm finding myself as one of them now!).
The size of my purse.
The size of my heart.
But I'd have to say the biggest thing she's changed for me is the way I perceive God's love for me.
Don't get me wrong.
I knew He loved me before she came along, but I guess I didn't really "get" the whole idea of how much a parent loves their child. He has used this precious little gift named Beth to help me understand His love so much more. One lesson specifically seems to keep resurfacing...
I CAN ALWAYS TRUST GOD BECAUSE HE DOES WHAT'S BEST FOR ME, EVEN WHEN I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
Let me tell you, I HATE to see my sweet baby girl cry. In fact, I would do anything to take away her pain. Anything at all, no matter the cost.
Well, let me clarify. I would take away her pain on one condition... that removing the pain is what is best for her. If she's crying because she is hungry, I feed her, regardless of how sleepy or hungry I may be. If she needs a diaper or clothing change, I change it, no matter how late for church I may be.
But...
... there are times she cries that I have let her cry because the circumstances causing the tears are for her best, although she may not know it. For example, when I've had to take her to the doctor, tears have been known to fall off her pretty little face. It seems she doesn't like boring waiting rooms or cold stethoscopes or shots, but I have to let her cry for a short time because it's what's best for her in the long run, even though she doesn't know that now.
Now God loves me FAAAAAR more than I could ever love Beth, and He ALWAYS does what's ultimately best, even if it's painful at the time.
Unfortunately for Beth, I will do things wrong, and make choices at times that aren't what's best for her at times... even though I try so hard not to do that. But I find great comfort in the fact God never fails. He never wonders if He made a mistake. He always knows what's wrong. And if He chooses to, He has the power and resources to fix any problem I might have.
So what was it you were worried about again?
Yeah...
You might wanna quit that worrying stuff because the Lord that loves me loves you too!!! And if you've trusted him as your Savior, you are HIS CHILD. He's not out to get you. Quite the contrary.
"...if God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:31b-32
What a wonderful Lord He is. You can trust Him. He is good. He loves you, even when your hurting...
Especially when you're hurting...
Will you go to Him? Take Him your hurts. He will fix them.
And if fixing them isn't what's best, He will still hold you while you cry...
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7