The thing about traveling with small children is there are always surprises. Nothing happens the same way twice. Ever.
We had already been driving 2 1/2 hours, in terrible thunderstorms, when I found myself on the north side of Nashville at 5:30 AM, in the cold, dark, rain, cleaning puke out of my sweet little baby’s car seat. I was not shocked. Concerned, tired and grossed out – yes. But not surprised.
It just so happens that not a lot is open at 4:30 AM central time, on New Year’s Day, in the middle of nowhere. That is why I ended up in a very dirty gas station bathroom, with my baby, Mackenzie – changing her diaper and her clothes and cleaning her up as much as possible. I felt terrible about the whole situation – my little girl was standing on the cold, icky floor whimpering – and my mother’s heart was beating fast – wishing I could just blink my eyes and make all of this go away. But instead, I had a thought.
I sang. As I tried to get everything done as quickly as possible, I rubbed her back and sang her bed time song, the one that always calms her down. It worked. I felt the stress dissipate and she quieted down a bit. Cradling her in my arms, I whispered the song in her ears, while we watched out the windows and waited for my husband to finish cleaning up the car seat… (He deserves an award for this trip, no doubt!)
Once we were back on the road, with everyone snuggled up under their blankets, my husband continued driving through the sheets of rain, strong gusts of wind and crashes of thunder and lightening. I haven’t felt that much tension in our car in a long time, just trying to get through the storm. My heart was racing, praying that God would protect our little car. And in the middle of the winds and rain, I could hear it. He sang.
Yes, I could hear the very song that I sing to Mackenzie, resonating in my ears. Promises of hope and future, assurance of care and protection, reminders of affection and delight for us. And it was amazing how I felt the tension dissolve into thin air, replaced with peace and calm.
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
This is what I realized, very early on the first morning of 2011: As much as I love my children and whisper words of love to them – even more, the Heavenly Father is with me all the time, rejoicing and singing over me. And He isn’t just at home, or just in the church building – He really will travel the miles to be with me, protecting me, delighting in me. His word is beautiful and true – ready and available at a moment’s notice – no matter where or when I need it the most.
Thank you Heavenly Father for expressing your love for me so clearly on New Year’s Day. Thank you for protecting my family and showing us just how much you care for us unconditionally. What a beautiful way to start the New Year! amen.
daily portion 
Beautiful. Just what I needed.