The Apple Of His Eye

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 17:8, NIV

Every stage of my daughter’s babyhood, from the sleepless nights to breast-feeding to changing dirty diapers, was a joy to me. I was ecstatic to finally have my long-awaited child, and I wanted to do everything right and not miss anything.

God provided us with the kindest pediatrician, Dr. Jaffe, who was a wealth of compassion, fatherly experience, and baby knowledge. He mentored me during every appointment through Kali’s childhood and constantly reassured me of my abilities as a mother.

I will never forget one traumatic day when I rushed into his office, cradling my daughter and her burned hand.

Kali was in her crawling stage, and that morning I had put a still-warm toaster oven in a lower cabinet that didn’t have child-safety locks . . . yet. Kali chose that morning to open her first cabinet. Before I could stop her, she put her sweet chubby hand on the toaster oven and cried out in pain. So did I!

I was really shaken! I was so sad that I did not guard her, the apple of my eye, as she needed. Her injury was my fault, and I could not hold back the tears. I rushed to Dr. Jaffe’s office.

Dr. Jaffe assured me that day that I was still a good mother and these things happen, even when we’re carefully watching over our children. He confirmed that my sweet baby girl was just fine and gave me ointment for her blistered hand. Dr. Jaffe’s words of grace will never be forgotten. Grace and compassion always feel good.

Once I got home, my trembling turned to melting into God’s strong arms. He was right beside me the entire time, just as He was with Kali.

In today’s verse, David gives us a glimpse of how lovingly God guards us. David basks in the comfort of being the apple of God’s eye. Even though I can never protect Kali from every danger, I know that God will always guard her under His wing, just as He guards every child of His.

Snuggle under a blanket and read Psalm 17. Bask in the reality of being guarded by the Grace Giver, as the apple of His eye, sheltered under His wing.