By far, the hardest part of this pandemic crisis is not getting to see my family. It’s been a month today since Caleb and his family visited us for St. Patrick’s Day. Missing my grand daughters as well as concern for my daughter Mary who is in Bolivia weighs heavily on my heart.
The Lord has met me in my sorrows and taught me about the fellowship of sharing in His suffering. Philipppians 3:10 says, “I want to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.
The first part of that verse is understandable and attractive, ‘to know him and his power.’ But the second is not something I would choose, ‘to share in the fellowship of his suffering.’
It’s quite a mystery because it seems to be my suffering I’m experiencing, not his, first of all! I don’t really get that deep truth, but I can tell you what I have experienced in this time of withdrawal from the ones I love. The ones that make me feel truly complete as a person, as a mom and a grand mom.
It’s in the moments where I am completely honest with my sadness, allowing my tears to flow while I share my grief with the Lord about missing them, that He is right here with me, to comfort me and to show me that He too went through the separation from his Father. I feel closer to him than ever before.
The amazing part is that he fills me with joy and satisfies my soul so I actually feel like I’m not missing anything! The thing that I was determined to avoid, more than two weeks’ separation from my grands, has not ruined me! I am learning a lesson that I need to repeatedly learn, that “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup, he holds my lots, The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, indeed, I have a delightful inheritance.” (Psalm 16:5-6)
He is my Portion, the source of my true satisfaction and well being comes from him alone. All the other blessings, as great as they are, are not necessary for my joy. He is jealous to teach us this as often as necessary for our hearts to be undivided.
I had always and will always make it my goal to see my grandchildren at least every other week when this is over. I just love them and delight in the wonder of their little lives. Tomorrow, Suzanna turns one year old already!! She is walking and talking and I would love to hold her or run after her little self for 24 hours straight right now!!!
This love, this longing, it’s from God and is actually a reflection of his love and longing for us! He can’t stand to be separated from us. And He goes to great lengths to overcome the distance between us.
Jesus’ last priestly prayer for us before he went to the cross was recorded in John 17:20-26
“I ask for those who will believe in me, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us..Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me, may be with me where I am..I will continue to make your name known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
I am comforted to know that heaven will be a place of eternal union with God and with his family. I am so blessed that my children believe in him and will be there with me! I pray for all those we love, our extended family and friends, to also trust in Christ’s atoning blood so they will be there as well. I pray for my grandchildren and great grandchildren, etc. to believe and be with us in Paradise!
John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
No comments:
Post a Comment