The other day, I was serving in the nursery and holding my favorite baby girl as she napped. Sometimes she gets in these moods where she knows that she needs to sleep, but she won’t allow herself to doze off for some reason. So I was in the rocking chair with her, just calming her down, and I was rubbing her back and brushing her hair, and trying everything I could to try and soothe her. I started tickling her feet, which made her smile. She has the softest feet! I really couldn’t believe it at first. My feet are currently so rough and calloused over, and muddy and just gross looking right now. They are the opposite of soft. These feet of mine will not be as soft as baby girl’s no matter how many times I use the ped egg on them, even in the shower! Even if I were home and not on the race, they would still be rough. Along with many weekly intense pedicures from some professionals, my poor feet will never be as soft as this baby’s feet.
I am an adult. I have loved an adult life. I have many scars and bruises, cuts, burns, and rough patches all of my body, not just my feet. This little child is so young. She has not had to face many of these troubles of life yet. I wihs I could protect her, and care for her precious skin a little longer, so that she could be soft, smooth and safe for as long as possible. But the fact is, children grow up. We all do. I will scar and bruise many more times in my life (especially on this race) and my adorable little baby girl will soon begin to harden her feet when she begins to walk. Growing older is inevitable, however we must remember that God is always there for us. When we fall down and when we laugh.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son,
but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against
those whom God has chosen?
It is God who justifies.
Who then is the one who condemns?
No one.
Christ Jesus who died-
more than that, who was raised to life-
is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness
or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
through him who loved us.
