A LULLABY FOR JACOB

My heart and my spirit are at rest tonight. This day marks my 38th week of pregnancy, and I can hardly believe it is getting so close. It seems like just the other day I read the positive result of my pregnancy test, and the tidal wave of emotions began. I was crying and laughing at the same time. There were a slew of reasons, but the first reason is because I was astounded by God’s timing, and second I knew Jason was not going to believe me. My heart was beating so quickly as I fumbled to dial the phone number to Jason at work, but I could never reach him! I ran into our home office where I love to pray and fell to my knees, still crying, laughing, and praying to God thanking Him for this blessing. Like I’ve mentioned before, the 9 month season for a mother’s heart is so humbling. Just as I have watched the physical effects of my body changing, my heart and my spirit are so different 9 months later. What was once a prayer for peanut, evolved into a prayer for a young son, and I’m now urged to think of what to say to him when we finally meet.


What will I say to this tiny being the first time I hold his little cheek to my mouth and whisper to him softly? Will he know my voice? Will he respond to me? Can I soothe him from his unfamiliar surroundings?


It’s very emotional to think of what I want him to hear from me first, but a friend of mine helped confirm this the other day. We were visiting after church a few weeks ago and she said that I should sing the name Jesus. Tears began filling the eyes of my friend, a mother of three sons, as she remembered the first times she held and spoke to her own for the very first time. By now I was crying and envisioning that moment for Jacob and me.


So, in the midst of all of this preparation and nesting I’ve been trying to think of the best way to sing to our little Jacob. His mind is so precious and vulnerable and I long for him to be instilled with the truth and love of Jesus Christ. A melody can be very sweet, but the words behind it can mean so much more. I’m not much of a song writer, but I think Twila Paris knew how this song should speak right to the heart of a child. It’s simple, sweet, and communicates what I long to hear Jacob utter some wonderful day. It’s going to be his lullaby.


My Best Friend: Words and Music by Twila Paris

Jesus is my best friend
I can always go to Him
Tell Him everything I’m dreaming of
My friend Jesus whom I love
Jesus is my best friend
He’ll go with me ‘til the end
Watching over me from up above
My friend Jesus whom I love
My friend Jesus whom I love