Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Don't Forget Me
All we want is to be loved. I believe that God takes the place of Father in our lives, because He knows how earthly rejection stings so terribly. We want the affection and attention of our parents, because they are the ones sent to guide and care for us for awhile. However, what do you do when there is a gap in that place?This morning while driving Shamora to school, I was struck with a harsh realization. She genuinely believes that if she is not with her mother, she will be forgotten. All she has ever wanted is love with no strings attached. Yet, I am not sure that her mother is able to offer that. When you are in a constant state of drowning, how can you think beyond your own survival? Keeping yourself afloat, forcing air in and out of your lungs is the focus. All you can do is kick and scream to stay alive. It is not natural to try and keep those around you alive too. Even if you do, it is simply exhausting.However, in Shamora’s mind, every moment she spends away from Mom is one that might slip away into oblivion. As a small child she is struggling to stay in control. Maybe if she can take care of her mother then it will all be alright.When I tried to tell Shamora, that it is not her “job” to take care of Mom, she became defensive. Already, even as a child, she has begun to accept the lie that if she can be perfect then she can put the family back together. Maybe just maybe she can figure out the formula to finally restore order. There has never been order though. All she has known is a life on the edge. Out of hurt and desperation all her mother has ever been able to offer is sifting sand. So Shamora has spent a life trying to hold the sand together. It is as if she stands in front of the waves in an attempt to defend the cause. In the end though, the changing tide is too strong and she is left feeling like she fails.However, Shamora can not bring Salvation. Only Christ can. As her mother’s life crumbles apart, only He can put her back together. It is His role and position to glue this life seamlessly together. He is the one that will bring healing and rest.If Shamora allows herself at all to enjoy being with us, she is not staying “true,” to her Mom. Counting the days until the weekend when she sees Mom relentlessly she holds out the hope that this will be the day that Mom becomes all that she needs. This is a lot of heaviness for a young life. However, what if the Lord has sent Shamora for such a time as this? Rather than spending a lifetime wishing for something that is not, may she grasp today who her Father is.” And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father.” Galatians 4:6 He can replace those broken parts of her today. He can also keep her protected from future hurt. Her mother will not forget her. Yet, the Lord tells us that even if a mother does forget us, He can not for He has engraved our names in the palms of His handsThrough her hands, He can open the eyes of hurt in her own Mother and realize that she really is not drowning. A hand is reaching out offering her a way out. She can come out of the water onto the solid rock.“He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." Malachi 4:6 My prayer for this little girl is that she will know the solid truth of who never lets her go. May she know today that she is not and never will be perfect. It is not her "job" to fix this. May today be the day that she allows herself to be a child, knowing that Daddy is taking care of everyone.
Posted by Leneita at 10:56 AM 3 comments