Within His Grasp

July 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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)

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

Leave a Comment

*