Edited to add: News Alert! Little Miss Alaena Addison Smith was born on February 9th, 2008. Please stop by her Mom's blog to welcome this beautiful little gift! (And then, please come back to say hi!)


Day 2 (of 3) And, it's devotional time

Read Psalm Chapters 15-17

“Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you…Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me in the shadow of your wings” Psalm 17:7-8

The Apple of God’s Eye

When I think of the emotions evoked by this phrase, I immediately think of a contemporary expression: Daddy’s little girl. Don’t you just smile and isn’t your heart warmed as you think about a father’s love for his daughter or his son?

For years, I longed to experience that kind of love; to really feel loved and protected, esteemed and valued, cherished and….chosen, again and again, each and every day…by my father. Sadly, this was not to be. Interestingly, the longing to be “daddy’s little girl” did not die with the death of my father; in fact, it grew with the absence of the hope I previously felt that maybe, just maybe…before he died, I might become the apple of his eye.

As I matured chronologically and spiritually, I sought comfort in the fact that my husband was a wonderful parent to our children. The wonder I felt as I watched him love and care, protect and guide, was felt at the core of my heart, but did little to ease my longing. I wanted to be loved by a dad like that. And then, nearly ten years ago, I discovered that my father was not in fact my biological father and my paternal parentage would never be revealed. I was broken; the years of expectation were now weighted down by the realization that I was more of an orphan than an apple.

Hopes shattered and defeated by the weight of this knowledge, I retreated. After weeks of intentional isolation and calculated self-pity, I soon became sick of myself! How could this sorrowful daughter be the apple of anyone’s eyes—so I ran…that’s ran to our Pastor’s office for some spiritual counseling. Unwittingly, yet immediately, I discovered that I had entered the “shadow of [his] wings” (Psalm 17:8). Finding refuge in God’s love for me revealed a previously obscured truth: as His child, I am the apple of His eye! He is my refuge (Psalm 16:1), He is my portion (16:5), He is my inheritance (16:6), He is my counsel (16:7), He is my strength (16:8), He is my joy (16:11). I had called out to God and he answered my prayer, He gave “ear to me…and showed me “the wonder of [His] great love” (17: 6-7). He removed my sorrow and replaced it with His joy. And I am kept “as the apple of [His] eye;” I am Abba’s little girl.

Reflection

Re-read Psalm 15-17. As you revisit these chapters, consider all that our Heavenly Father offers to his cherished children. Is there a longing in your heart that yearns to be satisfied? Run to your Heavenly Father, let Him “still the hunger” of your soul and be satisfied.

Today’s devotional was written by Diane Viere
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