A Summer Storm

It pierces the night.
The lightning.
It rattles the panes.
The thunder.

Rising, I make the coffee and turn on the news to make sure it is only
A Storm.

Already awake, I wait and watch as the dark skies are pierced
Over and over
With the bold flashes of light.

Slowly and quietly, I ascend the stairs to make sure the children are still sleeping.

And there she sits, straight up in my bed, looking for me.

The storm has awakened her.
And she was waiting.
For me to tell her all is well.
"Lie down, sweet girl.  It's just a summer storm.  It will pass.  Go back to sleep."
And, assured, sleep she does.

And I remember another storm.
And scared to death sailors.
And a sleeping master.
Who, when awakened, not by the storm but by the crying men, commanded peace.
And their amazement.
And his bewilderment at their lack of faith.

And I remember my storms.
My worries. My fears.
Every sleepless night I lie awake with worry. Anxiety.
Every unanswered question.  Every curveball.  Every unexpected turn.

There are no unknowns to God.
There is no moment He is bolted awake in fear from a storm.
He is the one, standing nearby, alert and watchful, 
Reassuring me:

"Lie down, my child.  It's only a storm.  It will pass.  Rest."
Matthew 11:28-29

The Center of It All

This.

This is what I want you to know:

"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."

~Eph 3:14-19 (NLT)

On each letter I send to my Compassion child, Ndungutse, in Rwanda, I include these words from scripture.  Each and every time.  Because if he gets nothing else from our correspondence, I want him to know this:

God's love.  It is overwhelming.  All-encompassing.

Deep.

Powerful.

And never, ever, ending.

It is the center of our very being.

The source of breath in our lungs.

And the answer to every question uttered.

And if we allow ourselves to fully surrender to the knowledge that we all are:

Relentlessly

Passionately

Shamelessly

Loved by the Almighty God of the Universe

We CAN change the world.

Because we, ourselves, will be forever changed.

It eliminates greed, envy, hatred and bitterness.

It cultivates generosity, compassion, and forgiveness.

It is a life-altering Love.

So, if you get anything from knowing me.

From reading my scattered words.

From seeing my face from time to time.

Or hearing my voice on occasion.

Know this:

YOU

are 

LOVED

Infinitely.

PS - In his most recent letter to me, Ndungutse referenced this scripture back to me.

Heart = Melted

Never forget.