Our youngest daughter just called to ask me if I would help her on a very important mission concerning her two-year old son. Over the past few months, like many children his age, he has grown very attached to his “blankie”. She’s been having an increasingly difficult time trying to get him to part with it even to get it in the washer. So together we devised a plan… my grandson also LOVES dinosaurs, so we are going to try and find a new dinosaur blanket or we may even make him one. We hope to get him excited about the new blanket and begin to use them both.
I was somewhat surprised to learn that most children get attached to a specific object (most often a crib blanket, stuffed animal, or thumb). That’s because transitional objects (T.O.s) provide a sense of security when toddlers are really beginning to explore the world and become more independent. Plus, T.O.s provide comfort at a time when childhood fears (of the dark, of strangers, of dogs) start in earnest.
However, I was even more amazed to learn that some adults still carry a love for a childhood blanket or stuffed animal. One survey found 35 percent of adults admitted to sleeping with stuffed animals and that adults with security objects is a lot more common than people realize. This affinity for certain memorable items can even include special photographs, jewelry, and clothing items. Think about what they may be for you? Hoping I don’t get in too much trouble for this, I will share with you that my husband still has his childhood teddy bear (that is in need of much repair). He doesn’t keep it with him, but he does cherish it and has always planned on giving it to our grandson. Oh… maybe we could trade the blankie for the teddy bear??
Regardless of what we may put some sense of security in – isn’t it great to know that we have an unwavering security in our God?
In Psalm 62:1-2 David writes:
Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from Him.
Truly He is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
God is my rock. What images does this bring to mind? A rock is solid, steadfast and important to any foundation. Many of us our partial to the mountains. Could their majesty and beauty represent God’s fortress to us? We have such a mountain in northern Arizona, Humphrey’s Peak, which is at 12,633 feet. It can be seen from I-17 as you come in to the town of Flagstaff, and often brings comments from tourists and locals alike. In the winter it is covered with a blanket of white snow and even more beautiful.
Photo credit: Alexandr Grichenko
Many of you are familiar with one of Sandi Patty’s most famous songs, “Upon this Rock“. In the chorus is says:
Upon this rock, I’ll build my kingdom
And on this rock, forever and ever it shall stand
And though the powers of Hell itself
Shall never more prevail against it
For Satan’s thrones are built on sinking sand
Upon this rock, I’ll build my kingdom
And on this rock, forever and ever it shall stand
Upon this rock of revelation
I’ll build a strong and mighty nation
And it shall stand the storms of time, upon this rock
No matter what we are experiencing in life today, tomorrow, next week, or any time in the future, we can rest assured that God’s kingdom is built on such a solid rock that it will forever and ever stand. It will be unshaken and unmoved by the storms of time. Trusting God to be our rock, our salvation and our fortress will change our entire outlook. We will no longer be captive by whatever it is that has a stronghold on us.
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. (Psalm 62:5) As we get close to another Holy Week celebration, take time to reflect on how important this week is to the foundation of our beliefs and smile each and every time you recall how the story ends! The kingdom of God is within each one of us.
Here’s the link to Sandi Patty’s performance of “Upon this Rock“. Enjoy!