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I sat with a 94 year old woman yesterday while she told me how the doctor's have informed her that she will never walk again, that she will be confined to a wheelchair the remainder of her days.  She was heartbroken.  Some may think that she's 94, she's had a good run!  Or, a wheelchair is the obvious choice for someone of that age.  But, not for Betty.  She is sharp, sweet, God-fearing, honest, courageous, beautiful....And, now she's so sad. :(


In the midst of all that pain, though, she asks knowing I had been at her retirement home doing the Sunday service what today's service was about.  How's that for dedication?!


I told her the story of a most recent experience that I had where the Lord had used an unusual moment to teach me a valuable lesson.  My littlest nephew, Lucas, who is three struggles going to sleep.  He always has.  In order to get him to sleep and keep him in bed, you have to actually lie next to him on his mattress and basically help him fall asleep.  You may have to rub his belly or his back, whisper soothing words or just hug him until you will finally hear one decisive sigh to let you know he's on his way out.  One night recently, he was having a particularly hard time falling asleep and was wiggling all over the bed and messing around.  I was getting very frustrated as it had been a 1/2 hour already so I wrapped my arms around his little body and squeezed gently.  I whispered to him that it was time to go to sleep and rest and he needed to stop playing around.  He whimpered a little and told me to let him go, to which I whispered, "No, baby, it's time to go to sleep.  Don't worry, though, I'm here."  Within in minutes, he was calming down and soon after that, his little curly head was resting on my arm.  As he continued to head for dreamland, I had a "God-moment", one of those moments when you know only God could know you needed that lesson at that moment.    I felt the Lord tell me, "Why don't you let me do this with you?"  "Why must you struggle against Me rather than fall into My arms for comfort?"  And, there, as Lucas' telltale sigh had come, I was softly choking back tears.

In order to sleep like a baby, I must fall in my Father's arms.  In order to be truly comforted no matter the situation, no matter how difficult things get, I must stop struggling and let my Father console me, strengthen me, guide me......love me.

It was still a while before I left Lucas that night as he would begin to stir every time I tried to leave, but it was just a continued reminder that God is trying to comfort and support me.....but I must let Him.

So, sharing this with Betty, tears form in her precious eyes.  And she tells me, "You're right, dear.  I must trust Him." 

We all must trust, Betty....we all must....

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