A single cell...

One day the Lord took into His hands

a single human cell.

He multiplied and divided it,

until now there were twelve.

The Lord worked on continuously

from twelve to twenty four.

Until a tiny heart began to beat,

then He divided still some more.

And after just a few heavenly moments,

or so it may have seemed,

He realized He would love this child

more than our minds could ever dream.

A little brain now began to grow,

two arms, two little legs,

ten tiny fingers, ten tiny toes,

all from a single egg.

Now from just one single cell

there lived and breathed a child,

and the Lord looked down upon this creature

so tender and so mild.

He wanted to keep him safe and warm

within his mother's womb,

but he knew that He must send him forth

and give him his own room.

To breath and grow, to live and learn,

the lessons of this life,

through happiness and sorrows,

through joys and through great strife.

The Lord looked down from the sky

and saw what He had made,

"I send you child into this life,

but do not be afraid.

Be strong and be courageous,

remember who you are,

and remember always my little child

I am never very far."

With that the Lord said to the child,

"Go now, you are free.

and may your journey through this life,

lead you home to me."

Although I am honored to be a parent, I always try to remind myself that my child is not mine alone. And as much as I love her, I cannot fathom the love of the one who made her. And no matter how much I want to hold onto her and love and protect her, I know that God has a plan for her that goes beyond what I could ever wish or dream for her. We can never completely shield our children from every blow that life brings, but we can show them a way through on a path that consists of faith, hope and love...