In the Cradle of His Arms

"In the cradle of His Arms"

Screaming was heard throughout the delivery room. I was finally out my mother’s womb. In nine months I had grown into a healthy baby. The nurse gives me to my dad, and my dad's eyes were brightened with joy and pierced with love. All of sudden his world had stopped and now his world was right in the cradle of his arms. His purpose was to take care of me, to watch me grow, and my purpose was… well let’s just say to be just like him.

Months had passed and while I desired to be in my dad's arm and not have a care in the world; he would not let me. He would put me on the ground with many different toys and he would teach me right from wrong showing me what to touch and what not. The hardest thing was that I made my own choices, and I would reap the consequences of it. Sometimes, I would hear a "no" in a deep tone voice, and sometimes a "yay" in a high pitch voice, but with every answer I got there was a reason for it. I knew that my dad was no longer content with me staying in his arms. He had taught me, and now he wanted to see me walk.

It was my first birthday and I have been learning how to walk. But, it is so hard! I just don't understand why my dad can't just let me stay in his arms. Because when I was there I never would fall on my face, never scratch my knee, and never bruise my elbow. I was safe in his arms. But then again…nothing exciting ever happened. I would just lay there and wait for someone to take care of me. I was scared to get up and do something. I was too scared to fail. I knew that God has given me legs to walk, and a mouth to talk. But I was too scared to use it because what if I fall, or what if I stumbled over my words? Then the question is…it worth it to even try?

I saw dad 3 ft away from me, and he wanted me to walk to him. I asked myself…why? Have not I done enough just by crawling? I have pushed myself enough, why can’t I just stay here with my knees on the ground? With all these questions racing my mind I heard him yell "Come here Saleena! You can do it." So, what do I do? I take one step and I fall on my face. How embarrassing, right? I mean, I am content with the way I am, grabbing one toy at a time, never seeing what else it out there because I am too scared to know. But the problem is that my dad was not satisfied with where I was.

Afer I fell, I expected to feel a gentle touch from dad but instead I heard it yet again…"Come here Saleena! You can do it."So what do I do? I just stand there and wait. I wait to hear "Saleena just give up." I wait to hear "Saleena you will never be able to walk." I wait to hear "Saleena never try, never fail." But what I could only hear was my dad's voice echoing in the back of my mind "Come here Saleena! You can do it." So, I tried again, but this time I had taken two steps before I fell. I knew this time that I will surely feel the soft touch of my dad. Right? Wrong, I heard it yet again…"Come here Saleena! You can do it." So I kept trying, even though fear was holding me back with every step I took. But with every step that I took, my legs got stronger and my balance got better. Even more important than all of this, I had a purpose that had to be fulfilled.

I realized that my dad saw the potential in me and there was nothing that will prevent him from it coming to past. He pushed me to walk because he saw me for who I will become and not for who I am. You see, I didn’t know the strength and power that I had until I walked in it. Although my legs were a little shaky and my spirit was fearful, deep down inside I knew that I had to walk in what God has given me because that would be the only time when I would truly grow.

18 years later and I am still walking to my Heavenly Father. I will admit it is still not easy, but no one else can do it except me. I hear Him say "Come here Saleena! You can do it" and every time I hear His voice my legs gets stronger and my balance gets better. But, even more important than all of this, I realize that I do have a purpose and that purpose will be fulfilled. And with every step that I take, I am getting that much closer to being that person who God calls me to be. You see, I am no longer satisfied being in the cradle of his arms and because of that I am walking stronger.