Thoughts in the midst...

You know that psa that has been running for decades that says "It's 10pm, do you know where your children are?".  I remember as a young person, talking back to the tv.  I would say , "I'm right here!".  I was usually home at 10pm.  My parents knew where I was.  When I was a parent with young children, I remember that commercial gave me the warm fuzzies.  I would hear that question from my television, and I would think "My children are safely tucked in their beds.  Thank you, Lord, for that!".  I considered them safe.  This question started to become challenging as my kids grew up.  As teens, all 4 of them would call me if they were going to be late, so that when I heard that question at 10pm, I knew where they were, for the most part, even if they were not home.  Then came 9/11, my son Christopher joined the Army, and subsequently got activated and deployed to the Middle East.  I no longer wanted to hear that question, because the answers were difficult to manage. Nick went to college.  Kate went to college, and then Uganda/Northern Uganda for 8 months.  Mike got in a terrible car accident. The list goes on...

 I had to struggle with that 10pm question-with-a-scary-answer for a while, off and on. I knew God was in control, I knew I could trust Him.  I knew I MUST trust Him, to have any peace in my heart. Those were the years that God taught me that I was trying to answer the wrong question.  Did I know where my children were?  NO..or maybe the answer at times was YES, and I do not LIKE where they are!  Wrong question.    
Right question:  "Does my Heavenly FATHER know where my children are??"--the answer to the right question is ALWAYS YES!~  what a relief!  GOD KNOWS.  He KNOWS every single second of their lives--past, present, and future.  It is a good thing I learned to trust Him then during what were some scary years.  What a life-long lessons I learned.  Which brings me to today-- today with 4 adults kids who do not run away from danger and trauma--they will often run TO it. Some live IN the city, all love to visit the big cities--they travel, they protect and serve our community, they use their voices to expose truth and stir hearts to see injustices and response in this world. Do they live in a safe and secure (earthly) bubble, which will protect them from physical harm.  Nope.  No, they don't. On this earth, a bubble does not exist that will ensure their physical and emotional safety.  The GOOD news is that the bubble DOES exist in the spiritual world, and it is the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is where my momma heart can rest, even as I grieve--and I am grieving today for sure. My little girl is in DC for work today.  I have no clue where she is and what she is doing--specifically--but God sure does.  My firstborn and his sweet wife are somewhere, doing something, along with my baby grandboy.  I do not know the details of their safety--but God sure does.  My secondborn is rushing from work to seminary, to home--at some point. His sweet wife is here and there, taking classes, doing this, that and the other thing.  I am not sure, but God sure is. My baby boy is asleep in his bed.  Does that make him any safer than the others.  Nope.  No, it doesn't. My knowledge of their whereabouts does not change a thing.  They are in the Lord's care.  No one can keep them safer than God Himself.  No one can hold their security, but God Himself.  I say all this to remind myself, as much as I say it to remind you.  Like everyone else, I got up, and the people of Boston are permeating all my thoughts. As much as I care about every single injured and traumatized person, and their families, I cannot even handle the sorrow evoked from the loss and injury of the children. The grief I feel over little 8 year old Martin, who was killed, and his sister, who is grievously injured and traumatized, and their momma...the pain is unbearable for ME..I cannot imagine how they are all feeling.  God knows.  He knows.  We must cling to Him.  He is the only source of comfort.  He holds our tears in a jar. And so we pray, and look to God for help, healing, comfort and strength. It is available, always and forever.

Psalm 91:1-4

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]

 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

    my God, in whom I trust.”

 Surely he will save you

    from the fowler’s snare

    and from the deadly pestilence.

 He will cover you with his feathers,

    and under his wings you will find refuge;

    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.