{A repost from last June, in honor of Daddys}

I have a brand new title: Auntie Jenn.  Saturday night, my first niece, Selah Grace was born—she is, of course, perfect and miraculous and Auntie Jenn is already planning her Christmas gifts.

Sunday morning, Audrey, blurry eyed from a late-night hospital visit to meet her cousin, slipped into our room as Mark and I finished getting ready for church.  She wasn’t too tired to rehearse the details of the night before—how tiny Selah was, how cute her hat looked, and how Selah’s daddy looked so happy to hold her.

”Daddy, did you feel happy when you held me?” Mark scooped Audrey up in the way only daddies can—the way that makes my tall six-year old look, again, like my tiny baby girl.

“Oh, yes, princess.  Oh, yes.” She wanted to hear (again) the story of the first time Daddy held her—what did he think, what he said to her, how did he feel.  Her smile widened as she listened to the delight of her father for her.

It’s Monday—you might have had some late nights this weekend like we did, or you may have worked extra shifts, you may be starting the week with a sick child, a new obstacle, or perhaps the same old struggle that was facing you on Friday.

But, Momma, can I encourage you today to delight in your children rather than tolerating them.  Audrey beamed as she heard her daddy’s delight—I pray you had parents who delighted in you and who loved you without conditions.  But, even if you haven’t known the delight of an earthly parent, you are equipped to delight in your children.

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

Quiet your heart….do you hear it?  Not yet?  Keep listening…

Your Father God is singing over you.  He knows the day He began to form you beautifully and wonderfully in your mother’s womb.  And His delight in you doesn’t fade with your sin and mistakes—you are His, made in His likeness, just like your children.  Accept the Father’s delight over you today, and as you do sing over your children—let them hear your delight for them, exactly as they are, today.

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