The Behemoth, a True Friend, and the Unexpected Joy of Our First Book
Whenever I travel up to Lynchburg for the heaviest of days—whether it is stepping into the courtroom for the hearings surrounding Cash, or managing the foundation's golf tournament—Jason Cudd has been a steadfast refuge. He has always opened his doors and welcomed me into his home. Sometimes I pay him, sometimes I don't, but his hospitality never wavers. He and his wife Emily are the definition of true friends.
Recently, Jason entered a beautiful new season of life, getting married at 50 and welcoming a daughter. Out of that new joy came a brilliant idea for a children's book: Hicca the Hippopotamus.
When he brought the idea to me, I immediately obliged. Refining the words alongside Jason, Emily, and Ceara, and diving into designing all the animations and graphics has been an incredible experience. We are finally ready to publish, and I am absolutely thrilled that he agreed to release it through My Only Son Publishing.
This is a massive milestone. It is the very first book published under the company name. While I always imagined the first release would be something much heavier, God knew exactly what He was doing. Given the heavy, agonizing spiritual lifting I am currently doing with the victim impact statement and writing Rest in Me, launching a lighthearted, joyful children's book is an absolute breath of fresh air.
As we prepare to publish Jason's brilliant idea, we wanted to anchor it with a verse to honor God. It turns out, the hippopotamus has a magnificent presence in Scripture.
In Job 40, God speaks to Job about a creature called the "behemoth." Biblical scholars and historians widely agree that the behemoth is the hippopotamus. God describes a creature of immense, unshakeable strength—one with bones like tubes of bronze and limbs like rods of iron. But the most beautiful part of the description isn't just its raw power; it is its profound peace.
(Fun theological fact: Aside from Job 40, the only other poetic nod to the hippopotamus in the Bible is found in Psalm 68:30, which asks God to "rebuke the beast among the reeds"—a reference to the hippo or crocodile that lived in the Nile, symbolizing the ancient power of Egypt).
Here is today's SOAP, dedicated to Jason, Hicca, and the quiet strength of the behemoth.
Today's SOAP
S — Scripture
Job 40:15, 23 (NIV): "Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox... A raging river does not alarm it; it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its mouth."
O — Observation
When God wants to demonstrate His own ultimate power and sovereignty to Job, He points to the hippopotamus. God highlights the creature's immense strength, but specifically notes its disposition. Despite its massive power, it is a peaceful creature that eats grass. More importantly, when the environment around it becomes chaotic—when the river rages and surges against its face—the behemoth is not alarmed. It remains entirely secure and unbothered by the turbulence of the water.
A — Application
The peace of the behemoth is exactly what I need to channel in this season of my life. The rivers around me are raging—the crushing weight of the courtroom, the intense push to execute my agency's goals, and the daily battle with grief. But just like the behemoth, I was made by the Creator to withstand the surge. Because my security is anchored in Him, the raging river does not need to alarm me. Furthermore, it is a beautiful reminder for Jason's new book: true strength isn't always aggressive; sometimes, true strength is simply remaining peaceful, calm, and joyful no matter what the water is doing around you.
P — Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible blessing of true friends like Jason. Thank You for his hospitality, his new family, and the joy of this creative project. Lord, I ask that You bless 'Hicca the Hippopotamus'. Let this book bring light and joy to children and families everywhere. Thank You for allowing My Only Son Publishing to launch with such a peaceful, happy project amidst the heavier work I am carrying. When the rivers of my life rage and surge, give me the quiet, unshakeable security of the behemoth. Let me rest in the knowledge that You are the Creator of it all. In Jesus' name, Amen.
