A Spring of Joy

Lying in her bed and reading to my Bella last night, she grabbed me and cried out. “Mommy,” tears filled her little eyes, “Adam and Eve are so sad. They have to leave the Garden!” She agonized over that for moments as the tears spilled over, and I looked deep into the eyes of my freshly-turned three-year-old marveling at her depth of feeling.

I held her close, “Why did they have to leave the Garden?”

She heaved a deep sigh and wiped her eyes, “Because they listened to Satan and they think God doesn’t love them.”

It was at that point that the tears filled my eyes. Yes. A thousand times yes. Satan whispered the lie of all lies to Adam and Eve in the Garden–essentially that God doesn’t love you, that God is a liar.

Oh, but there’s more, I assured my Bella, so much more to that story.

“But God promised them they would be rescued, Bella. Do you know how?”

Her eyes lit up, “Jeee-thuth!” She clapped her hands.

Yes, baby Girl, the most amazing picture of love anyone could ever see! And what did Jesus do?

She sat up in bed, rolled on top of me and squeezed my neck, “He died on the Cross! For our sins.” She laughed out loud. “Oh, Mommy, I like this story!”

Me, too, Bella.

I left her room, turned this song up as loud as I dared, and wept.

I like this story, too.

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Song: Be Merciful To Me
Artist: Caedmon’s Call
Album: In The Company Of Angels II

Out from the deep I call
To Thee O Lord to Thee
Before thy throne I fall
Be merciful to me

Be merciful to me
Be merciful to me
Through shadow dark
And valley deep
Be merciful to me

From the garden to the cross
Thy mercy did endure
My soul purged of all dross
In blood made pure

Thy mercy Lord is true
As ever truth will be
But still I cry for you
Be merciful to me