Comforter and Protector
Good Morning, God June 30th, 2009
Dear God,
A strange morning. A morning of strange sadness. A morning of sweet nostalgia and separation. Memory is a funny thing, God. It gets in my head and mixes itself all up with the present reality until I am lost in a confusing array of feelings instead of being present in the here and now.
As I have previously confessed to You (Anti-goodbye Girl), it is hard for me to say goodbye. As April and I walked to our cars to depart for our separate destinations this morning, the lump in my throat grew larger and tears formed in my eyes. She and I both were happy to be getting back to our own independent lives but, nonetheless, our bond as mother and daughter is stronger than all other connections.
For almost a month now, we have had constant contact. That is not the norm with the last two years of Med school consuming all her time. This past month, she had been preparing for the first phase of her medical boards so I intentionally stayed more connected in order to support and encourage her. Then about two weeks ago, after taking her test, she arrived at my home, delivered her pets and continued on to Texas to visit her Air Force husband. A week later, she was back to pick up said pets and a day later I drove to her home for a mother/daughter weekend.
Our weekend was fun but by yesterday the strain of being out of our normal routines was beginning to show. I felt like April was being judgmental and overbearing with me. She felt like I was oversensitive. The temptation to become angry and argumentative with each other flitted around us like a bumblebee. Happily, we were able to resist a big fight. She and I have always been uncomfortable being uncomfortable with each other. Usually, one or the other of us will take responsibility for being out of sorts and extend the olive branch. (Usually me;-)
So, God, what does all of this have to do with You? Everything, of course.
Although April and I missed our private, quiet times with You this weekend, You don’t miss Your time with us. Your Spirit is always present to help us in our time of need even without an “official” request, a formal prayer. You promised comfort to us always by sending the Holy Spirit, The Comforter, The Paraclete. Thank you, God! I am indeed comforted on this gloomy, rainy, sunless day when I am again forced to separate and say goodbye (for now) to my beautiful daughter. I am comforted to know that You keep us united in our spirits and will always protect us.
Psalm 18:2 God is our protector. 2 Timothy 4:17-18 God strengthens us and rescues us. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 God protects us from evil. 1 Corinthians 10:13 God protects us while we are being tempted. Psalm 56:9 God protects us from our enemies. Psalm 91:3-7 God protects us from danger. Psalm 57:1 God protects us until disaster has passed. Psalm 121:3-8 God is always protecting us. Joshua 1:5 God’s protection never leaves. Isaiah 41:10 God’s protection is reassuring. John 10:28-30 God’s protection is powerful. Psalm 124:1-5 God’s protection is necessary.
photo: wingsofadove photos flickr.com
Dear Cheryl,
God brought you to my mind this morning on the way to work and I had special prayer for you.
I wondered if there was a particular reason and this morning when I read your prayer for today about the strange spirit of sadness and you being an anti-goodby girl, I understood in part and can identify with your emotions.
In fact, throughout your writings, I identify with you spiritually. I, too, write to the Lord in the way of daily devotions. I have always found a release in my spirit through sharing this special way of communicating with Him. It seems that He brings the words and thoughts to me and they come back and cousel me. It helps me to keep my mind and soul centered on Him, rather than the things going on around me.
I have been blessed to read you prayers and have received something meaningful from each one. Thank you for bringing Glory to Him as you share His Word and the desires and thoughts of your heart.
I have enjoyed meeting April and feeling the special bond you share. Having that oneness and that kind of love that makes you not only mother and daughter, but also soul mates and best friends is such a gift from God.
May God bless you for being the mother you are and the person you are. The thought God gave me this morning in my prayer time is, the best way we can know Him and please Him is to seek Him with all our hearts and then we will just naturally be more like Him because He will fill more of our lives with His Spirt and His mind, and His actions in us. Sometimes I pay more attention to knowing His will than I do to knowing Him. But I do want to know Him and be closer to Him, I just stumble over myself at times on the way there.
I’ll be thinking of you today and thank you again for sharing the Sprit of God in you with me.
Love,
Glenda
Thanks, Glenda.
I appreciate your thoughtful response and am glad your post will be there for others to reflect on as well.
cheryl