Leah's Song

She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "This time I will praise the LORD." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.  Genesis 29:35

Jacob had two wives:  Leah and Rachel. 
He loved Rachel, who was beautiful, more than he loved Leah, who had soft eyes.
God saw this. 
God saw Leah. 
God opened Leah's womb and closed Rachel's.

Leah had her first son, hoping Jacob would love her. 
But he didn't.  He loved Rachel.
She gave him another son for his love.
She gave a third son for his affection, receiving only rejection.
When God gave her a fourth son, she no longer sought Jacob’s love.
With this son, she praised the Lord, the one who saw her pain and rejection.

I know how Leah felt. 
Before I met my Lucy I sought love and intimacy, remaining lonely.

“Maybe this relationship will make me happy.”
“Maybe this girlfriend will want to marry me.”
“Maybe this one will follow me wherever God leads me.”
“God sees me.  God loves me.  God desires me.  This time I will praise the Lord.”

“Maybe my father will call me.”
“Maybe he’ll remember my birthday.”
“Maybe he’ll like what I bought him for Father’s Day.”
“God created me.  He is my Father.  He is my Dad. This Father's Day, I will praise the Lord."

This time, I will praise the Lord.

"I Give You Praise."  Richard Smallwood