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by: Denise Mailhot, OPL
Saturday Ramblins, Vol. 2, No. 19 (September 25, 1999)
There has been a recurrent theme in my life the past couple of months, and it goes something like this: Come to Me and I will give you rest. Things had been getting quite hectic around the house. Bookings and appointments were being lined up for the fall, people were calling and needing help with a project here or a program there. We had to get the kids ready for school and so forth and so on. You know the drill.
To make a long story short, the one comment made to me by an online friend was what I needed to hear point blank: Come apart, or you will come apart.
I took a little time to read a novel, to work and pray on my current icon, and generally just "pull myself together". Over and over in the things that I read or heard was the repetition of the theme. One way or the other, things like meditations and radio programs reminded me: Come apart, or you will come apart.
Part of this theme focused on recognizing and being grateful for the gifts that the Lord has given to me, especially in my husband and family. Along with these were signs of the overwhelming love and acceptance that Jesus has for whatever little bit of myself that I might be willing to offer Him.
Over the past couple of weeks, I've been reading one of the Joshua books to my daughters at night before bedtime, one or two chapters at a time. It has become a running joke between us that whatever was offered to Joshua, he accepted gratefully. So now when we read that someone invites Joshua to supper or to stay the evening, the chorus is "and Joshua accepted!"
Linette, my nine-year-old, pipes up with a laugh, "You can count on Joshua for two things, Mom: he loves the soda bread, and he always accepts!"
Isn't that a wonderful thought? Come to me and I will accept what you are willing to give me. I will give you rest!
If you are struggling with hurts today, come to Me and rest in me. Are you struggling with feelings of anger? Give them to me, and have rest! Are you struggling with prayer? Just rest in me. Don't force it. I understand. I hear what you cannot put into words.
What's happening in your schedule? Are your ministries overwhelming you? Give Me a little time, and I will help you collect your thoughts and show you what is most important. Are you struggling with the words flung at you by another? See the other person's hurts as I do, don't take them personally, rest in Me.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee." (Is. 26:3)
Jesus, Lord of compassion, gentleness and kindness, shape me into the person
You need me to be. May my life be a reflection of the delight and loving acceptance of the human condition that You want to share with us. Amen, alleluia!
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