Thoughts worth Sharing

The Big night scare ~What was that !

    The season is changing and I’m noticing just how overwhelming this month can be.  For some it’s getting the children back to school and juggling everything else. For others it’s bringing in the harvest and canning, juicing, and storing for the coming winter. Others are overwhelmed by health or family issues. Regardless, we feel the chilly breeze late evening and the crispness in the air in the early mornings. This last week, while feeling overwhelmed, I recalled a night many years ago.

 

 When our children were growing up, we enjoyed the blessing of raising our own five, and a good number of foster children; totaling up to ten at a time.   I remembered with a smile something that had happened with my two biggest boys. 

  Tom was back East on course for a few weeks, and the two oldest boys; both foster sons shared a bedroom downstairs.  Every one was enjoying a good nights sleep when there was a loud crash followed by a major scurry on the stairs.  My bedroom door burst open and my two brave, strong boys stood breathlessly before me, each with a pillow stuffed under one arm and a blanket dragging from the other.  In almost perfect unison they gasped. “Mom, can we sleep on your floor?”  I turned on the lamp on the bedside table and squinted at the fully awake, wide eyed ‘Chicken Little and Turkey Lurkey; one at six feet with size thirteen shoes, and the other catching up!

“What’s wrong?” I asked them. “There was a big bang in our room!” they chorused.

“Get me my house coat, I instructed, and one did so, while both dropped their bedding on the floor at the end of my bed in hopes of setting up camp later.

Down the stairs we went, with my boys that had manfully received the “Take care of Mom” instructions as Dad left,  trailing behind.

I had a bit of trepidation at what might be there, but someone had to be brave.  I turned the light on in their room. There scattered on the bedroom floor lay the entire set of Grollier Encyclopedias and all the year books.   An upward look exposed a wooden shelf hanging by an end.   “ I guess the shelf broke guys!” I said.     They began to pick up books uttering a couple of “Hmmphs” in reply.

 I could tell though, that the adrenalin was still pumping and they were both still

wondering who pushed the books  down!  Still overwhelmed, they asked once again if they could still sleep on my floor.

     When we are overwhelmed, does God find us running to Him with a pillow

under one arm and a blanket trailing from the other?   It’s okay.  It’s better than sitting                                                                                                                                                     

in fear and sorrow bundled up in a blanket in the dark all by yourself.  God never turns His children away when we run to Him. He says: “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Ps 50:15

 In the New Testament, we are encouraged to not suffer alone, but instead:  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1Pe 5:7  .

God  tells us that He has prepared us a secret place; a place where we can run to in our spirits and find comfort, strength and safety.  “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.   Ps 91:1 

Are there overwhelming situations in your daily life?  Maybe there has been a loud frightening ‘bang’, that jarred your peace much like the crashing of the encyclopedias as they hit the floor? 

Even those who appear strong can experience fear.  What are the names on the spines of your fallen books:  Work difficulties, Finances, Health, Family problems, Worries, Fear, others? 

   Remember God’s secret place. You won’t need your pillow.  Just run to the Lord and pour out your heart to Him.  You will discover the blessed place where His Almighty Shadow hovers over you in love and protection. Best yet, you don’t have to leave when your immediate troubles disappear.  My boys, after a good night prayer, did have to sleep in their own room.  God’s secret place is open 24 hours a day, and we don’t need our bedding. The best decision would be to ‘just move in’, and dwell there in His presence all the days of our lives.

 

                                                                                                                          Rosemary