With
four older brothers and sisters, when I was a child I recall being a little
fearful that Mom could easily forget about me when we were out and about
town. I remember one summer day when I
was about four, we were at a busy shopping center, and Mom was helping my brother
with a pair of shoes. Somehow, I wandered off. It wasn’t long before I realized I was in
unfamiliar territory…without anyone I recognized! I went to the front of the store, but when I
realized Mom wasn’t there, either, I ran outside, and by that time I was really
wailing. I ran down the sidewalk toward
the busy highway.
A
lady in the store followed me out and ran after me. She took me by the hand and promised we’d
find my mother. She took me back into
the store to the front counter. I
stopped crying and looked around, just in time to see my mom poke her head
around the display. I ran as fast as I
could back to the arms of my mom!
In
this turbulent world, there are days in my life when I feel just as lost and
just as scared as I did those many years ago; a small, panicked child running
down a sidewalk straight toward the busy highway. But my Heavenly Father comes after me, He
takes me by the hand, promises me safety, and he leads me back to Him…and I go
running back to His loving arms.
It
doesn’t matter what we’ve done, where we’ve been, or how far we’ve run, our
Heavenly Father has His hand extended, and His arms opened wide.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.
Amen! I am always glad he welcomes us back and helps us to find the way back if we are open to his guiding!
ReplyDelete(hope you had a great Christmas Day and were safe from the storms!)
betty
So true!
ReplyDelete"He remembers that we are dust." That is a sentence that has often given me comfort. :} And has, sometimes, allowed me to remember the foolishness involved in thinking that we little dust people are able to be in control of so much--and the wisdom of letting God handle it. Whatever "it" may be.
ReplyDeleteYou know, as I read this post, it occurred to me that you had reason to be concerned that your mom would lose track of you--because she did! Isn't it good to know that, even when we wonder off, God never loses track of where we are? And is always willing to come after us.
I love Ps 103, by the way.
Have a blessed New Year!
Deb
I was repeatedly getting turned around and lost as a kid... I can relate to your story! What a kind lady that woman was, to go after you and lead you by the hand back into the store.
ReplyDeleteI'm like Deb, in that Ps 103 has long been one of my favorites. "So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him..." I think it's that mercy. :-) What a beautiful post.
Your post gave me comfort today. Thank you.
ReplyDelete