"Please tell me he still loves me." The text on her phone spoke volumes. JoAnn wished it didn't mean anything, but her son had surprised them with an early morning visit to announce his plan to divorce.
Hanging his head as he poured out his heart, he pulled back the curtain on his private life. JoAnn's heart broke as she asked a few questions, trying not to pry while seeking to understand.
Looking at the bright blue sky on her way to church, JoAnn smiled a little to herself. She considered the irony that bad things often happen on beautiful days. Her son and daughter-in-law looked fine on the outside-but behind the scenes their marriage was full of pain and struggle.
JoAnn would not allow herself to be drawn into their struggle. It was tempting to try to help them understand each other. But she knew they needed to be honest with each other, instead of being honest with her, and hoping she would explain their perspective to the other one.
What she would do is be there with love and compassion for each of them. Sitting in her car in the church parking lot, JoAnn grabbed her phone, scrolled to her daughter in law's name, typed "I love you" and hit send.
Dear Lord, thank You for showing us how to love others with grace and understanding. Please fill us with so much of Your love, that it flows out of our eyes and mouths. Please Lord, cleanse our hearts of self-righteousness, pride, and every wrong thing. So then we may succeed at expressing Your compassion to every hurting soul with wisdom and grace. Please Lord, we cannot do this work in ourselves, we need You. In Jesus name, amen.
Tenth Avenue North's song "Worn": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5AR5b8E0xU
Written by Mary M. Wilkins
Hanging his head as he poured out his heart, he pulled back the curtain on his private life. JoAnn's heart broke as she asked a few questions, trying not to pry while seeking to understand.
Looking at the bright blue sky on her way to church, JoAnn smiled a little to herself. She considered the irony that bad things often happen on beautiful days. Her son and daughter-in-law looked fine on the outside-but behind the scenes their marriage was full of pain and struggle.
JoAnn would not allow herself to be drawn into their struggle. It was tempting to try to help them understand each other. But she knew they needed to be honest with each other, instead of being honest with her, and hoping she would explain their perspective to the other one.
What she would do is be there with love and compassion for each of them. Sitting in her car in the church parking lot, JoAnn grabbed her phone, scrolled to her daughter in law's name, typed "I love you" and hit send.
Don’t fret or worry.
Instead of worrying, pray.
Let petitions and praises
shape your worries into prayers,
letting God know your concerns.
Before you know it,
a sense of God’s wholeness,
everything coming together for good,
will come and settle you down.
It’s wonderful what happens
when Christ displaces worry
at the center of your life.
Philippians 4:6-7 MSG
Tenth Avenue North's song "Worn": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5AR5b8E0xU
Written by Mary M. Wilkins
This is wise advice in this story. The prayer is so appropriate as is the song you chose, Mary.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.....
Focus, is the neon-flashing word I hear in this scenario - thank you for reminding me to put on my Son-glasses to see through the foggy situation. Thank You also, Lord, for sharing this with Mary who shares with us.
ReplyDeleteSuch an amazing reminder to me. I always want to fix things especially when it comes to my sons. Sometimes the best "fix" is to say I love you and pray. See the Son-shine in the circumstances. "Through it all", He is with us.
ReplyDelete