MEDITATION:
Written by Julie MacNeil.
During this time of COVID, my prayer life has intensified, as I’m sure it has with many others. Being confined to home with no answers to the pandemic and no end in sight, I found myself turning to God on a much more regular basis. Each night my prayer would begin, “Thank you, God, for getting us through another day.” During the spring, which any other year I might not have even noticed, I would sit on the wooden bench at the top of my yard and thank God for the beauty of the earth, for all the blooming flowers, which seemed to be doing their best to make up for me being confined there. By fall, our Women’s Bible Study small group resumed, with a faithful “remnant” meeting on campus to study Revelation. We found great comfort in meeting together. Winter came, and as one tradition after another fell by the wayside due to COVID, my spirits began to sag. But still I thanked God for the health and safety of my family and friends.
My daughter was expecting a baby in January. 2021 arrived, without fanfare or celebration, and I decided to devote more effort to my connection to God. I began to read again the well-known devotional, Jesus Calling. The January 4 entry challenged readers to start a new habit, of saying out loud, “I trust you, Jesus.” Trust was something I struggled with during times of worry or anxiety. I was the person on call to go care for two granddaughters when it came time for my daughter and son-in-law to go to the hospital. My bag was packed, and I slept with my phone next to my bed. I prayed for them every night. At 11 pm on January 6, the phone rang. It was time. I dressed quickly and left the house. As I drove into the dark, foggy night, I felt a twinge of uneasiness. So, I said, “I trust you, Jesus.” When I arrived at the house, all was quiet. Soon I heard footsteps coming quickly down the stairs. They must be leaving soon. The next sound out of my daughter told me maybe God had other plans. The baby was coming NOW!
There was no fear in the hallway, steps away from the car she never quite made it to, only focus on the tasks at hand. My daughter’s focus was to give birth to that baby. My son-in-law’s focus was to call 911. Mine was to not let that baby fall onto the tile floor! So, I put out my hands. Soon the 911 lady was on speaker phone asking questions and giving instructions. I followed them. Within minutes, I saw in my hands my grandson’s perfect little face, and at 1:46 a.m., he slipped out, arms flailing, and yelling his arrival! I had never felt so close to God. EMT angels arrived just then, scooped up the baby, and whisked him and my daughter off to the hospital with my son-in-law following. I sat for several minutes, trying to comprehend all that had just happened. I had trusted Jesus and he was merciful. I will never be the same.
PRAYER:
Written by Ignatius of Loyola, (1491-1556), a Spanish priest and theologian who founded the Jesuits. Jesuits served the Pope as missionaries.
O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of Your presence, Your love, and Your strength. Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us, for, living close to You, we shall see Your hand, Your purpose, Your will through all things. Amen!
MUSIC MEDITATION:
Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. Altar of Praise Men’s Chorale. Music written by William Kirkpatrick and lyrics by Louisa Stead in 1882.
Pathways Press.com 