David once wrote, “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings” -Psalm 17:8 (ESV). The Hebrew translated into the phrase “apple of the eye” is “אִישׁוֹן בַּת־עָיִן.” It can be translated more literally as "the little man of the eye," or "the daughter of the eye." It is an expression which simultaneously expresses intimacy and a sense of preciousness. You can only see yourself reflected in someone's eye when you are intimately close to them. The “daughter of the eye” is the pupil of the eye—the most sensitive and precious inner part of it; the most vulnerable and protected part of it. Our Father’s heart for us, through Jesus, is that we are to be the “apple of His eye;” that we are intimate with Him, treasured by Him and protected by Him.

I once heard someone say that intimacy can be described as “into me you see.” It carries significant gravitas in terms of identity—knowing our Creator and being known by Him. Paul wrote, “I count everything as loss because...

If someone had asked me 5 years ago if I would be writing something like this, I would have answered a big "No way!" I never dreamed this would be a part of my life, or my family’s life yet here I am. I’m wondering if any of you reading can relate to that thought as well. So, before I get going just FYI, I am not a writer, but I absolutely love to talk to people, so I am going to imagine that we’re getting together for a coffee or standing around in my kitchen because you know that’s where the conversations happen!

My young adult daughter is currently in recovery from an eating disorder. One that she suffered and struggled with alone for 5 years before a diagnosis, which looking back all the signs were there. The medical community failed her repeatedly. She had multiple injuries as a distance runner that they just could not figure out. When I told her primary care doctor that I thought she had an eating disorder, he told me no she does not, she is just doing too much. What?!!! Look...