My granddaughter, Ashton, has a doll named Lovey that she has had ever since the day she was born. Lovey has comforted and slept with her every night for many years. Actually it is (or if you saw it you might say "WAS" the head of a little white lamb with a body of soft, soothing fabric--just the kind babies love to grab hold of and hang on to when they are sleeping.
However, from time to time, Lovey disappears, gets misplaced or has to go in the laundry basket. This can be very traumatic for child and parents.
Ashton's other grandparents are big garage salers so they have found a couple of "Lovey's" to take her place during those times she is missing. Remarkably they are very close in looks to the real thing. But from day one, when she was tiny, Ashton knew the difference and would have no part of Subbie or Fakey--the replacement dolls' names--only the "real thing" would do.
I couldn't help but think of us Christians and how at times when we need true rest and comfort, we reach for things that are substitutions for or imitations of the "real thing."
I pray that we will not be like those described in Isaiah 28:12:
God has told his people, "Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest." But they would not listen.
They chose to accept a substitute for the place of rest that God had provided for them. And they would not listen.
As Ashton knew her real lamb and would not accept an imitation, I pray that we will only be willing to partake of the true Word of God, for true rest comes only from the hand of our Father.
May you cling to the Lamb, reach out for Him, and rest in Him today.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:29, NIV
I long to rest in Him.
I am unwrapping the gift of rest today at Tuesdays Unwrapped.
Photos: Pictures of our darling Ashton several years ago. She was so serious about that tea party and did NOT want to take that dress off that was provided by the photographer. Oh, me!
Photos: Pictures of our darling Ashton several years ago. She was so serious about that tea party and did NOT want to take that dress off that was provided by the photographer. Oh, me!
