A Walk to Remember

I have been dealing with a lot of interesting things lately. The Holy Spirit has been dredging up things from deep within me and gently working with me to correct those things. It has been hard and exhausting. But today on my walk back from lunch, I saw one of the RD's (I think) and his little girl. She couldn't be more than two years old. She is so small and precious. She gave me baby fever, honestly. But she was crying like someone had just snatched her favorite toy away. Her dad gently said "Honey, you're gonna have to walk." He held her hand but he was forcing her to walk when she wanted to be picked up. It would have been easier for him to just sweep her up into his arms and walk across the courtyard. But he patiently walked with this crying young'un (North Carolinian speak for 'young one' lol), as he was slightly stooped so that his arm would reach hers and he continued coaching her.

Immediately the Holy Spirit said "See? That's how the Father is with you."

It would be easier to just do the thing that would shut me up, to just give me what I wanted. But I wouldn't be learning. On the Andy Griffith Show, Andy Taylor tells his son Opie "You need to be able to learn to stand on your own two legs." God will never make me actually go alone. He will be, in reality going out of His way by stooping down so I can reach Him, coaching me so that I will be quieted with His love and patiently going at a pace I can keep up with. His timing isn't mine. Just because I think I'm ready for a marathon doesn't mean I am. He knows that and He has made me go slower. He doesn't always (or hardly ever) does what is easiest. But He most certainly always does what is best.

The end of the story? The little girl became content to just be walking through the courtyard holding her father's hand. I think sometimes my problem is that I am so focused on the fact that God isn't doing what I think He should be doing (don't shout me down now!), that I forget to be content in knowing that He holds my hand. The God of all heaven and Earth. The God who called things into being takes time to love on me and talk me through things. When that little girl is older and is able to walk without stumbling all the time and can eventually run, she won't even be able to remember today. But without today that won't be possible. These are light and momentary trials but there is a glory that far outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Letters from Me and Paul

I pray that today you will be surrounded by whispers of love; that you will discern how much I love you, how much Jesus loves you and a glimmer of how valuable you are. For every debt you owe, through the eyes of Christ you are worth far more. For every success and every short coming, worth indescribably more. Today I pray that if your heart feels twinges of regret from the past, that the whispers of love will echo in the canyons of your soul to the deepest place. You are not only welcomed here with me, you are not only wanted here. You belong here. This is your home.
In a smiling face, in the sunshine, in the winds of life as they blow-hear the whispers of love. Love isn't overbearing. But love makes statement enough to calm your heart, assure your mind and cast away your fears. Let it. Let the wind hug you while I can't. Let the sun embrace you. Let the Spirit guide you; He wants to, you know.

Paul had his own prayer:
"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:16-23