Within His Grasp

July 18, 2011 By
Sawyer, Eyeing the Cross. July, 2011.
Hold on Tight!
Our eight-month-old grandson Sawyer will happily sit in his car seat for long periods of time. But once removed, he will not willingly return to it.
Once he’s been set free, he’d rather be held. 
So a few weeks ago when the family went bowling to celebrate his big brother Cadence’s promotion from preschool, I leaned over his carseat, which was perched on a table, to play with him while the rest of the family bowled.
I made faces at him. I talked to him. I shook his teether/rattle. I blew raspberries on his cheeks, round and full and soft as apricots.
He reached up to me. Experienced in the ways of babies, I prepared for my glasses to be snatched from my face. 
He aimed lower. And in that act, he aimed higher. Far higher.
He clutched at the cross that I wear on a chain around my neck. He wrapped his chunky little fingers around it and held on, smiling at me as if he’d claimed a prize.

I whispered to him, ‘That’s right, Little Man. Grab onto that cross and never let it go.”

He rewarded my speech with a spit-bubble, artfully rendered.

And this Lala’s heart filled with prayer: “Father, let this infant find You and cling to the cross for all his days. You are the best prize of all. Once he’s found You, and You’ve freed him, hold him tightly in Your grace and mercy. Amen.”

21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
1 Peter 2:21-25 (NASB)

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Today I am linking with Laura Boggess at The Wellspring for Playdates with God.

Filed Under: 1 Peter 2, baby, cross, family, prayer, salvation

Comments

  1. Nancy
    July 18, 2011 at 7:15 am

    The verb "cling" has become very precious to me over the past couple of years. Beautiful picture and words illustrating why we need to.

    Just getting caught up on my reading–I've missed you!

  2. A Joyful Noise
    July 18, 2011 at 11:18 am

    Aamen to that prayer and may that sweet child experience Christ's love and protection all his days.

  3. Laura
    July 18, 2011 at 12:52 pm

    I love that your are called "Lala"! Do you know that's what my nieces called me when they were little and "Laura" was strange to their tongue? "Aunt Lala." It's kind of stuck. I might have to resurrect it when the grands come :).

    And what a sweet one you have, Sheila. He is just precious. Amazing how he knows what to cling to at such a young age too! 🙂

  4. Sheila
    July 18, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Thanks, Ladies!
    Nancy, welcome back. I've missed you too!
    Hazel, yes, that's my prayer too.
    Laura,
    My daughter taught his big brother Cadence to call me that. She took it from my name:
    SheiLA LAgrand. It's right there in the middle 🙂

    We just spent a week with this little guy, his big bro, mom, and dad. Such a treat.

  5. tinuviel
    July 18, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    Thank you for that Scripture passage. I needed that reminder to entrust myself to my faithful Creator today. God bless you!

  6. Amy
    July 18, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    This made me smile:) Joy and Truth hold hands so perfectly in this experience you share. Just precious.

  7. Sheila
    July 18, 2011 at 5:50 pm

    Thanks! I'm glad you found a helpful reminder and something to smile about, you two.

  8. shrinkingthecamel.com
    July 19, 2011 at 2:13 am

    It's amazing the things we can learn by paying attention to these little ones. Literally, clinging to the cross. I suppose there was some Holy Spirit action going on there among the two of you…:)

    Thanks Sheila, I will be remembering this today.

  9. Sheila
    July 19, 2011 at 5:06 am

    My pleasure, Bradley! Thanks for reading.

  10. Pamela
    July 20, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    Oh, just a precious baby. I echo your prayer in hoping he'll always cling to the cross.

  11. Sheila
    July 20, 2011 at 6:00 pm

    Thank you, Pamela.