Words to Ella

Things I've given to Ella since she was born last year . . .

I haven't said it every day, but sometimes when I hold her and she's calmly laying on my shoulder I say,

Your Mama loves you,
Your Daddy loves you,
And God loves you,
No matter what.
And no matter what happens in your life,
We'll always love you
And we'll always tell you the truth
And you can always tell us the truth
No matter what.

Most days we sing to Ella. I'll share the words to my favorite, which is sung in a minor key:

Create in me
A clean heart, O God,
Let me be like you
In all my ways.
Give me your strength;
Teach me your song;
Shelter me in the shadow of your wing,
For we are your
Righteousness
If we die to ourselves
And live through your death
We shall be born--
Again to be blessed
In your love.

I'm not trying to show off how good we are to our daughter. I'm sure plenty of people love on their children in various ways and even sing to them.

I want to make a point, though. Someone once said, "Every parent sacrifices their children to their values." I believe it's true, which is why I'm not afraid to tell my daughter that I believe God, though I can't see him, and that God lives in her and loves her and loves the world.

Another reason I sing these songs and say these things while I hold her is for my own sake. I believe I desperately need God. He's given me life, but if I don't take the time to say thanks in a song once in a while I start acting like I think God and the whole world owe me something. I want to be accountable to God, too, concerning my care for Ella. I've known a few people who don't believe in God, yet live in integrity. I've also known Christians who simply used God to justify their unrighteous and unjust living. I believe my integrity is my responsibility, yet in need of reform that only God can handle.

The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is compelling enough to me that I appreciate the Christian faith that flowed from his story. I not only want to share that story with my daughter whether she one day believes it or not, but I want to live in integrity with that story no matter what.