October 21

Our daughter Libby had her first baby a week and a half ago. She is so precious, so dependent, so innocent, so full of promise and joy - so new. I simply sit and hold her and gaze at her delicate hands and feet. I marvel at God’s creation and mercy. I think I could hold her for hours and be perfectly content!

When Libby and Mac brought her home from the hospital and had their very first night alone together, it was scary. They kept waking up to check on her. Was she swaddled properly? Did she need to burp? Had she nursed enough? Was she alright? Were they taking care of her in the best way?  

The next morning they had a little worship service with her; just the three of them. Together they read Psalm 139, “You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; too lofty for me to attain … All the days ordained for me are written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Tears flowed as they looked into her tiny face and stroked her delicate fingers. In this holy moment they gave her back to God. They knew they couldn’t protect her. They knew she belonged to Him first. It was a moment of receiving this incredible gift and then entrusting her back to her heavenly Father who loves her even more than these new parents can. It’s really too hard to take in—for any of us.

Each time one of our five babies arrived, John and I did a similar thing when we came home from the hospital. This step has been important to us for the last 36 years of being parents. And we’ve had to take this step over and over again. As each of ours left the nest, we had to do it again in our hearts. When different ones walk through challenges, we remind ourselves that they are His first and His hand is still upon them. And now I have to do it again with this precious granddaughter.

Relinquishing our children in any season is not easy. But we have to remember to whom we are giving them—we are giving them to our heavenly Father who loves them even more than we do and who does not slumber but is constantly watching over them.

He who watches over you will not slumber, indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:4)