Squeak #1

It was just one word. A whispered breath, actually. But it was spoken so lovingly into my heart with such gentleness and tenderness, my breath caught and I gasped.

Daughter…..

My own father did not call me daughter with kindness or compassion. My father, captive to his own world of unredeemed brokenness and pain could only offer violence and chaos  to those around him.  He was world rich, but poor.  He had little margin to give love, let alone tenderly shepherd the precious heart of a little girl.

But in my time of prayer that day, I heard the voice of the One I have come to recognize and trust, admittedly a little later in my life and faith walk.  So different from the all-too-familiar harsh tones of a broken man.  So recognizable as the voice of the One whose love took all my mess ups and screw ups, held them up to my cringing eyes not to shame me, but to remind me all my sins had been nailed to the cross through His beloved son.  Jesus.

I know what I have been forgiven.

Not because I am good enough on my own to warrant such kindness. Not because I am smart enough, pretty enough, and accomplished enough.  But simply because He does not want His redeemed daughters living in bondage and in captivity to pain, fears, insecurities, and shame.

Redeemed daughters are re-purposed living letters bearing witness of worth, restored. Precious gemstones, made priceless by the blood of Jesus. There is no need to strive, posture, compete and compare… Hide. When the God of the heavens calls you the one in whom He delights, the need to conjure up and hide behind those well-rehearsed dance steps of Appearance, no matter how beautiful and brilliantly executed… Dies.

Some of us had fathers who whispered unequivocal delight into the hearts of their little girls. Many of us did not. And it is to those women with little girl hearts —old little girls, young little girls, middle-aged little girls that my thoughts turn.  To those who have yet to hear whispered into their hearts the truth that they are indeed the daughters of the True King. Receiving the breadth of love and delight compressed into one amazing expression is singularly liberating.  

Would His daughters then, in this new identity, speak less gossip and more words of kindness.  Would there be less competitiveness and comparisons, and more humility and encouragement. Would there be less manipulation and striving for control, and a greater generosity of spirit and support.  For the world will know we are His, by the love we have for one another.

Daughters of the True King.

O Magnify the Lord with me. Let us exalt his name together.