Precious Child

For my very first post at The Lone Ranger Dad, I'd like to revisit some thoughts I had about 18 months ago, relating being a new father (again) to our relationship with our heavenly Father.  First of all, let me give you a little background to the story/post.  My son, Levi, was about 3 months old. He is my first son, who has 2 older sisters, my daughters from a previous marriage.  My 2nd marriage was falling apart despite desperate efforts to salvage it, my wife and I had separated, and I hadn't been able to see my son for almost a month.  Mind you, I was used to sleeping with this little guy on my chest every night.  The night I wrote the following, I finally was allowed to spend a little time with my sweet boy, and this was my experience.  I hope it touches you, and causes you to think a bit.  As single dads, it's easy for us to get into the zone of our jobs/careers, trying to make a living on a stretched budget, maintain family/friend relationships, and trying to be the best dad we can be on our own.  And somewhere in the whirlwind of our daily lives, figure out how to have a meaningful relationship with God.  Usually, I think it goes something like, "God, help me to make it through another day, help me to be a good dad, please provide the money we need, etc., etc."   Yet, I think we miss out on a crucial part of our relationship with our heavenly Father, perhaps the most important part: Simply being in His presence as His beloved child.  Read on, and let me know your thoughts...

"So I got to see my son tonight. Wasn't for long, but every moment was precious. Amazing how much we can take for granted in our lives, but equally amazing when we truly appreciate and regard as precious what we have. In the little time I saw my son tonight, I cherished every moment. At first, he was kind of fussy, and seemed like he didn't really remember me too well from a little over a week ago when I last saw him. Granted, he's only 3 months old, so his memory isn't too great yet. However, after about 15 minutes of shifting around, trying to play, nothing seeming to work very well in making him happy, he and I finally found that place of harmony, that sweet spot. I held him up against my chest and began singing to him. Mind you, I'm no vocalist when I'm trying to sing at church, or really any other time, but somehow, when I'm singing to my son, it's perfect. I began singing to him a Dennis Jernigan song, "When the Night Is Falling." Goes something like this, "When the night is falling, when the day is done, I will hear you calling, 'Come,' and I will come, while you sing over me...When the night would hide my way, I will listen until I hear you say... 'How I love you child I love you, how I love you child I love you, how....I love you..." I just sang this to Levi over and over, and he fell asleep on my chest with his head nestled under my chin...It was absolutely heavenly. All my cares, all my hurts I'd been bearing for so long, just melted away for those precious few minutes. As I just held him and sang over him for those 20 or 30 minutes, I envisioned my heavenly Father singing over me in the same manner, and I truly felt the same peace that my son felt while he was wrapped safe in my arms. Tonight was an experience I shall cherish forever. When was the last time you felt your heavenly Father singing over you? I would encourage you to quiet all that is around you and listen.... Just listen."
''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

You can listen to the amazing song here: