December Cub Club

God knows us by name, and we are never out of his sight.

There are days when our little ones feel lost in the crowd: in the classroom, at church, even in our busy homes. They may not have the words for it, but their actions often tell the story: a little more clingy, a little less regulated, a little more withdrawn. 

Jesus’ Parable of the Lost Sheep — also an experience that King David must have had so often as a young shepherd — reminds me of this: no matter how overwhelmed we may be, God knows us each by name, and we are never out of his sight.

Part of nurturing our children’s faith is slowing down enough to show them this with our own attention. When we bend down to their eye level, remember the tiny details of their day, or notice them seeming a little lost or overwhelmed and pause to check in with them, we’re showing them: “You are seen, you are known, you are safe.”

For our own childlike faith, God gives us a similar invitation. We grownups can feel just as lost and unnoticed. We too lay awake, counting our concerns. But we too can lift our eyes to the stars and remember: the One who flung galaxies into space has not lost us. We have his full attention. Perhaps today you and I count a few ‘stars’ — twinkling memories of the times we’ve felt especially remembered and found by God — and let ourselves rest in his gaze.

Psalm 8 is a wonderful psalm here. David wrote it while working as a shepherd. Taking care of the sheep, he found wonder in the God who took care of the stars in the moonlit canopy above, and still made time to take care of him too.

You are seen, you are known, you are safe.

Lots of love, and stay young,

Benedict x

P.S. Cub Club loves to share the love. If you have a friend who’d be encouraged by this month’s short thought, hit forward and pass it on — they don’t have to be a member.