{So proud of her color choice… purple glitter!}

She’s four, funny and anything but fragile, and she’s my girlie who got a hearing aid last week.  It’s been a long time comin’, and let me be the first to tell you that we’re all about as giddy as it gets.

Funny how hearing makes you realize just how much you’ve been missing…

Immediately after she wakes each morning, she begs me to put her hearing aid in.  She knows the benefits already, and happily accepts that trying to hear on her own would be in vain.  Now she turns to me the first time I call her name. She sings along instead of asking me to turn the music up over and over.  She gasps with excitement at the breakfast table when her brother’s voice comes in loud and clear.    We actually get through an entire book without her saying, “Huh?”.  Thoroughly impressed, she stops me mid-sentence – several times throughout the day – just to say, “Mom, I…JUST… HEARD… THAT!”  She doesn’t take one clear sound for granted, this sweet, spunky girl of mine.

She was born with a deficiency, but she’s not held back, because she’s connected to the source of help that she needs.

As we’ve dived into this new chapter in our lives, I’ve learned a whole lot about the amazing technology that accompanies such a tiny device.  Tess’s hearing aid comes with two microphones: one placed to amplify noise in front of her, and one situated behind to pick up background noise.  Because of technology and timing, these two microphones allow sound to be divided into different parts, separating background noise from speech.  In mom terms (heh), what this means is that if Tess is facing and focused on the person who is talking to her, those sound waves hit her main microphone first, and the distracting background noise is essentially “turned off” so that she is able to clearly hear the speaker’s voice.  Pretty amazing stuff.

What had previously been paralyzed now has great purpose.

As we’ve mourned and wept for the families affected by the Connecticut tragedy these last few days,  it could be easy to give into thoughts that leave us feeling paralyzed.  Paralyzed by the evil in this world.  Paralyzed by overwhelming sadness for families we’ve never met.  Paralyzed by fearing for the safety of our own children.  Paralyzed by the unknown, and by our lack of control of what happens to us on this side of heaven.

Because sin entered the world, all of  human race has a deficiency.  But because of Jesus, praise God we don’t have to be held back, paralyzed by our sin any longer!

As I wake up each morning, I recognize my need to plug into the Source of Life - Jesus.  I’ve experienced the benefits of knowing Him, and recognize that I am nothing without Him.  He calls me by name, and I find comfort knowing that I am His child.  I can sing songs of praise, knowing that my Redeemer lives.  I’ve even caught myself stopping mid-sentence, overwhelmed by His love and the fact that “GOD… JUST… DID… THAT.”  And just like my girl’s hearing aid, I’ve learned that when I’m pursuing and focused on Jesus, only then is the background noise of this world hushed, so that I can clearly hear the voice of my Savior.

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have PEACE.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!

I have overcome the world.”

~ John 16:33

What had previously been paralyzed now has great purpose.  Because of the hope we have in Jesus, we are free to be messengers of PEACE to a hurting world.  

Paralyzed or purposed?  Which will you choose today?

At His Feet,

 ^“And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

~ Philippians 4:7

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Women around the world are IN THE WORD!

Every Wednesday we will have a link-up. If you are a blogger we invite you to link-up any blog posts that you have written about your quiet time that week. We ask that you put our button in the post or on your sidebar so we can find each other. We do not have code for this link up button. Just right click and save as. Then link it to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org

{photo credit}

Years ago, my Christmas decorations were neatly placed, angled in all the right directions and color coordinated to the detail.   Sophisticated white lights prevailed, Christmas china was used only for special occasions, and precious nativity sets were placed high on shelves to keep from being broken by little curious, fumbling fingers.

But somewhere in my parenting journey, God graciously taught me  – through my children – that life is meant to be lived.  Touched.  Enjoyed.  So now our Christmas ornaments hang a bit off balance (but are placed with a whole lot of excitement and love), fun colored lights fill our home, and I try to say yes as often as I can to frequent tea party requests… using real china, of course.

And those nativity sets?  They have become more precious than ever.  Not half-forgotten up on some shelf, but adored in the hands of my sweet, imaginative four year old.

With the nativity pieces now within reach, Baby Jesus and Tess have had quite an adventurous week!  There have been rides in the Barbie car, and trips to the grocery store.  Baby Jesus has visited with Dora and all of Tess’s favorite baby dolls, and He even rode in an elevator (aka a tall pedestal candle) several times today.  Baby Jesus has kept Tess company at the lunch table and in the potty.  He’s been swaddled in a wash cloth,  and bathed in the bathroom sink.

But the moment that I can’t get out of my head is when I caught Tess in the corner of our living room, snuggling Baby Jesus with much affection. When I sneaked in closer to see what she was doing, I could hear her singing softly…

“Thank you, Baby Jesus, for being bor-or-orn.  Thank you, Baby Jesus, for saving the world. 

Baby Jesus, I… love… You…”

Humbled and instantly brought to tears, God knew just the reminder that I needed to hear that day.

God loves beyond comprehension, and that love is worthy of our response.

These days are busy.  Life gets full and complicated.  And if I’m not careful, I’ll go through this season fully aware of God’s tangible love for me through the gift of Jesus, yet will forget to bow down and whisper my love response back into Jesus’s ear:

“Thank you.”

“I praise You.”

“I love You.”

“I adore You.”

I tucked my spunky four year old into bed tonight, and instead of her regular bedtime song, she requested that I sing her a song about “Baby Jesus coming to save the world.”  Fully aware of several carols I could sing, I chose instead to take Tess’s lead and make up my own love song – not from any hymnal or jumbo-tron – but this time from my heart.  I closed my eyes, held her hand, and sung softly into her ear as I worshiped…

“Thank you, Jesus…”

“I praise You, Jesus…”

“I love You, Jesus…”

“I adore You, Jesus…”

“Thank you, Baby Jesus, for coming to save the world…”

My love response.  Well overdue.

You see, God wants ALL of me… not my leftovers after I’ve served on my own strength, not my rushed minutes after I’ve made everything else a priority before Him, not just my selfish prayers after nothing I’ve tried has worked. Oh Father, thank you for pouring out your great love towards me, and help me to reciprocate a love that is worthy of all that You are!

 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” ~Mark 12:30

At His feet,

Women around the world are IN THE WORD!

Every Wednesday we will have a link-up. If you are a blogger we invite you to link-up any blog posts that you have written about your quiet time that week. We ask that you put our button in the post or on your sidebar so we can find each other. We do not have code for this link up button. Just right click and save as. Then link it to http://www.goodmorninggirls.org