Tuesday, October 4, 2011

A Man for All Seasons




I saw it.
With my very own eyes.
I saw a face full of fear.
Lips that quivered.
A heart that was broken.

Never...never did I think this beautiful face would be marked with eyes that were so full of tears.
Tears of joy...usually...not tears welling up from a grief-flooded heart. They had no where left to go.

What do you say?
What do you do?
How do you offer comfort?

All I could possibly do was to listen. To listen some more and to be silent.

No longer did she feel loved
No longer was she cherished.
No longer was she the love of his life.

She was lonely...for the first time really, ever.
She was afraid...of what laid ahead of her...for her family, for her children.
With one small conversation and with very few words given, she no longer had her identity. It was as if it had been stolen and given to someone else in exchange.

Right there...as her tears no longer could be shed, she had two choices to make

1. To trust God, and to walk by faith...knowing that she would have to trust in One who could not be seen or touched.

2. To walk by sight...using her weak legs to walk the jagged trail, while grasping for every willing hand to help steady her now frail and mostly trembling soul.

People disappoint.
Friends and family dig deep for encouraging words, but in the end, they are empty words of hope.

...this dear, sweet LOVE has taught me oh.so.much.

Isn't it easy at times to share words of advice we think is best?

Dear friend of mine, God is working on your trust.
You are loved by a God who loves you.
You are chersished by HIM...
and you are the love of HIS life!

Let Him be your MAN for all seasons.
It is HE who is "overflowing with joy, intimate with sorrow, hospitable to sinners, nemesis of evil, tempted in all ways, innocent of all wrongdoing, at home in lonely places, the life of the party,one who turns water into wine, just because He can, who multiplies loaves and fishes, just because He cares, but who denies help to his cousin John as he languishes in prison, who indeed, refuses to help himself when he staggers in a desert or groans from a cross. He goes up on mountains and down in valleys. He preaches to thousands but takes time for any lone beggar, weeping whore, groveling invalid, writhing demoniac, pleading father. He leaves banquets to visit the sick ward. He is silent when talking would help His cause, and talkative when silence seems most prudent. HE is rude with bullies and phonies and prigs and, at the same time, tender with loosers and seekers and penitents.

HE is with us when we soar on wings as eagles, and probably even when we wingsuit jump, and with us, too, when we can't walk for fainting...and everywhere in between."
{"man for all seasons" and quote by Mark Buchanan}

"But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the LORD their hope and confidence."
Jeremiah 17:7

Your mourning will be turned to JOY!!

With all our love!

{THANK YOU DEAR PENNY for the book! I am loving it!}

Shared with: titus 2sday, women living well, our simple country life

1 comment:

  1. Beautifully written. I hope it helps (helped) the person it was meant for. Hugs- Diana

    ReplyDelete