by Nan Jones @NanJonesAuthor
I cradled my infant daughter close to my breast, her silken fingers wrapped around mine. I felt each breath as her tiny chest rose and fell, filling me with wonder at the goodness of God.
Our eyes locked. I studied her baby blues, looking deep into her soul. As my gaze steadied, I noticed my reflection staring back at me. In our closeness, her eyes were mirroring me which could only mean that her reflection was in my eyes as well.
She was the apple of my eye.
In Hebrew, the expression “apple of my eye” (ishon) means “little man” or “little daughter”, referring to the tiny reflection occurring on the pupil of an eye when gazing upon each other. It implies closeness. Knowing. Intimacy.
The Lord refers to us, His children, as the apple of His eye. Isn’t that beautiful? Isn’t it wondrous to think we are so close to our Heavenly Father – the Maker of heaven and earth – that our reflection glistens upon His eye? It’s hard to fathom, isn’t it?
Oh, what boundless love is this!
“[The Lord] found him [the whole assembly of Israel] in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so the Lord alone led him.” ~ Deuteronomy 32:10-12
I want to walk so closely with my Father God that I feel His breath upon me, that I feel the clasp of my silken fingers in His. Like my infant daughter cradled in my arms, reflecting my gaze, I want to bask in the love of my Abba Father and find my reflection in His eyes.
I want to know Him more.
I want to understand this holy relationship between Father/daughter that He has gifted me.
That He has gifted you.
Pretty amazing, isn’t it?
Yes, pretty amazing, indeed.
What a beautiful illustration of God’s love for us and the intimacy of our relationship with Him!
Thank you Norma. In many ways, the relationship He makes available to us is beyond comprehension, isn’t it? I find great comfort in knowing He is with me always.