Do you remember when, as a child, you were so tired you found the nearest adult (usually Mom or Dad) and, without a word, curled up, placed your head in their lap, and went to sleep?

Not too long ago our little girl, Jordynn, was in her room doing her homework while my hubby and I sat in our living room watching TV and reading (guess who was doing what!). I heard Jordynn coming down the hall before I saw her, socks padded her footsteps. Without a word she went to the sofa where my husband was, sat next to him, dropped her head in his lap. Dennis stroked her lovingly and she fell asleep. Immediately. My huband, in turn, placed his arm around her and she took his hand, automatically.

Of course I grabbed a camera.

Later, she woke from her nap, returned to her room, and finished her homework. Apparently, she’d just grown tired from her work and needed a respite.

Ever feel that way?

Yesterday I was doing a word study of Exodus 15:13: In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

The words that grabbed my attention were those in bold.

“Lead” or Nachah, which means GUIDE. To me, guiding and leading are totally different things. When someone leads me, they are ahead and I blindly follow. But when someone guides me, they are shoulder to shoulder with me, stepping ahead when necessary, pointing things out along the way, making me aware of the dangers, the things I don’t want to miss, etc.

“Guide” is Nahal. This is where it REALLY gets good!

Nahal takes the whole “guiding” idea to a whole new level. It means, “to lead with care…to guide to a watering place…to cause to rest…to bring to a place of rest…to lead to a watering place and cause to rest there…to journey by stages.”

Jordynn went to one of the two people (my hubby and me!) where she knew she would be lulled to sleep by tender touches and strokes, by an arm draped protectively around her. As I remembered the picture I had taken (which I’d show you if we could get this picture thing to work! LOL) I thought of how my Heavenly Father sent His Son to guide me to Him. To watering places along the way. Step by step. Day by day. Pointing out the dangers. Showing me the things I don’t want to miss. Leading with care and, when I grow too tired to continue on in my work, drawing an arm around me, stroking me tenderly, until I sleep in His care.

It’s a word picture I hope you don’t miss. And I hope you are experiencing as well.

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