This week I’ve given birth to my firstborn son, taught him how to walk, and walked with him to his first day of kindergarten. I watched as his dad taught him to ride his bike without training wheels and stood in the driveway as he drove the truck out of sight with a new driver’s license in his pocket. I’ve celebrated his 1st birthday and his 18^th birthday. I’ve helped him learn to read and framed his senior portrait.  I’ve watched him pull his first tooth and helped him register for freshman orientation. It’s been a busy week and its only Tuesday.

Tonight I grabbed my Bible and, according to the reading plan I follow, the Old Testament passage for today was I Samuel 1-2.

I Samuel 2:1-10

¹ Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.

² “There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

³ “Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.

⁴ “The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
⁵ Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.

⁶ “The LORD brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
⁷ The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
⁸ He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.

“For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s;
on them he has set the world.
⁹ He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.

“It is not by strength that one prevails;
¹⁰ those who oppose the LORD will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from heaven;
the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

“He will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Like Hannah, I can rejoice knowing that my life and the life of my firstborn son are in the hands of a sovereign God.

Why are you rejoicing today?