I love these feet!

There's just something about his chubby little 'foots' that I love. After changing a diaper today, I was kissing and tickling his feet, listening to him giggle, and I was suddenly carried away by my thoughts.

I began to think of how he loves mostly to go barefoot around the house because he likes to be able to see his "toesies." But how on occasion he wants to wear his socks because he enjoys sliding on the floors, and will squeal, "Wook at me. I'm 'skatering.'"

I then thought about how quickly he has grown from that tiny newborn foot that could barely hold a sock to a very active toddler who loves to jump and dance and twirl to any music that finds its way to his ears. He's almost helpless to sit still when the music starts. It transports him to his own little world. We just stand back and watch. And enjoy.

I thought about all the places that his feet will one day take him. How sometimes the path will be stony and rough, and the journey will require extra effort. And that there will be thorny patches when he will have to determine in his heart if the destination is worth the pain the journey will cause. Times of running through tall grass (probably in our yard) and carefree jumping into puddles.

Before I even realized it, my thoughts had turned into a prayer for him, that God would make a way for this child of mine. That He would even now be carving a way through the rocky roads of his future, that He would make the grass a little greener and would teach him how to rise above the muck and the mire that this world is so full of by teaching him to set his feet on a rock. The Rock.

My heart felt so heavy for the few short moments that I had been carried away by my thoughts. But as I poured out my heart to God, I was comforted by His astoundingly great love for us. This scripture came to mind. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11) I love how The Message says "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." WOW! I just love that God has it all worked out already. I can stop worrying. I know as a parent we can't choose the path our kids will follow, but hopefully we lead by an example worthy to be followed. Follow me as I follow Christ...

Amen.