Hebrews Chapter 2

“You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.” Hebrews 2:7, NIV

Prayer Over Our Children

Give my little one ears to hear Your message of salvation so that she does not drift away. Open her eyes, oh Lord, that she may see the signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit that testify that You are the Son of Man, crowned in clothes of glory and honor. Jesus, be the Author of her salvation and bring her into Your holy family. ...

Declare her name, oh Lord, calling her sister and singing her praises in the presence of the congregation. I pray my little one will place her trust in You and be freed from the chains of fear in death. Help her when she is tempted, Jesus, just as You also suffered when tempted, and be her merciful and faithful High Priest. 

“That looks like a long, fluffy snake!” Sweet pea pointed up to the sky at a cloud. We lay on our backs on our butterfly blanket, with the sun to our faces and the sky as our own personal panorama screen. It was a morning of simple joys.

Just moments before, Sweet one giggled with laughter and scampered about chasing bubbles. Her infectious laughter rang out like welcome bells, lifting my heart up in joyful surrender. To hold back, stay guarded against instead of fully entering in and embracing the moment, was no longer an option - only the sweet surrender to the purity and innocence of child eyed wonder and joy remained. 
     
The morning had started with Sweet one waking up early and calling out in a scratchy voice. “Momma! Both my nostrils are clogged!”, followed by a phlegmy cough.

We were two days away from embarking on a much anticipated trip to visit our family and friends. Oh no! Not again! My thoughts tumbled as I tore down the hallway to her door. A few months earlier, we were poised to make a similar trip, only to cancel at the last minute due to Sweet one’s unrelenting fever. Please God, I silently begged, help me know what to do. Help her not get worse!
     
Coughing, nose dripping, and tears commenced for the first part of the morning. Activities were cancelled, and plans rearranged to accommodate Sweet one’s new health status. But despite the sudden changes in the day, the two of us surprisingly enjoyed the morning together. With no pressing demands upon our time, we lazed about in our pajamas, played with Legos, and played Sunday school with stuffed animal friends. We did laundry, folded clothes, and watered plants. Then, as we sat down to enjoy a snack, I turned a worship DVD on or our viewing pleasure. 
     
Sweet pea has always loved music, even from invitro. Her soft butterfly kicks pummeled my insides each time I placed a small recorder playing music on my mountain top of a stomach. I always imagined she was dancing or reaching out to touch the music which streamed over her. Sweet girl and I have danced around the kitchen to the radio ever since she was an infant, and her teacher tells me quite proudly that she is not afraid to dance in front of her classmates. So, it came at no surprise that shortly after finishing her snack, Sweet pea jumped up and cried, 
     
“Let’s dance!” My stuffy nosed, phlegmy little girl danced and wiggled in front of the television screen, twirling around to her heart’s content. But then, after a little bit, she darted over to me and asked for me to clear off the piano so that she could play. Curious, I moved a pile of books and mail off the large instrument.
     
“Sit right here, Mommy,” she sweetly asked, patting the empty spot beside her on the bench. As the two of us squeezed like two peas in a pod on the 4-legged piece of hard wood, she flashed me a smile, laced her little fingers on the piano keys, and started to play.
     
“I will bow down,” she sang in her sweet tones still scratchy from sinus drip page, her fingers playing an accompaniment of their own.
     
“Hail You as King,” she smiled with a sparkle in her eyes, echoing the voices singing on the DVD. Notes plunked and plinked from the piano as Sweet pea gently pressed a finger on each chosen key. 
     
“I will follow,” my little girl’s voice reverberated with joy through the phlegm, “give You everything! “As the music swelled to heights of glory, I sat with heart overflowing and eyes filled with thankful tears. Beside me, little girl sized fingers blissfully danced over the black and white keys which loomed larger than life to her preschooler hands. With voice lifted high and heart radiating with pure joy, Sweet pea offered her song as the sweetest of sacrifices to the Lord. Beethoven or Brahms, it was not, neither was its melody even recognizable, but offered in the truest and purest of hearts, it was.
     
Just like Sweet pea’s performance on the piano, it doesn’t have to be perfect, it doesn’t even have to be fancy or plain, it just needs to be sincere, heartfelt, and genuine. God doesn’t want what is intricately beautiful or ornate on the outside, He doesn’t even want offerings given in our own strength, abilities, or pride, but God yearns for what is given in joy, love, sincerity, honesty, and even with imperfection.  For it is what is offered in fullness and freedom of complete heart surrender which pleases the Lord and is found as an acceptable sacrifice. We forget sometimes that it is not our sufficiency, ableness, and perfection which brings God the most joy, but it is our best and most sincere efforts of what is not yet polished, what is less then perfect yet is given with the greatest effort, the most joy, the humblest of hearts, and the most contrite of spirits which God finds wholly pleasing and acceptable.
     
​“Come as you are,” He invites us, “do not tarry and do not wait,” for the bridegroom is coming. 

A Parent’s Prayer

Oh Lord, please help me give You my everything – my past, present, and things to come. Take my talents, my successes, all that I am, and make them Yours. Let me bring offerings of humility, sincerity, earnest diligence, and joyful thanksgiving. Search me, oh God, and find me holy and pleasing to You this day.