Will You Hold My Hand?

For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.  Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

He’s seen too much in his short, little life. Lived in too many homes; had too many families to ever feel secure. Now, for a season, he’s living with my daughter and her husband and their son. They often open their home to foster children who have no other place to go.

Finally, this summer, I had a chance to meet him. We don’t live near each other, so phone calls and pictures fly back and forth, but actual visits are treasured and rare, carefully planned and anticipated. Oh, how I wanted our visit to go well. How would he respond to the new, temporary grandmother figure in his life? Would he call me Nina like my other grandchildren do? Would he sense my love and joy in meeting him? Would he … let me hug him?

Yes. He did. We hugged, we laughed together. He let me hold him. And every time we crossed the street to the beach, he said, “I want to hold Nina’s hand.” I felt a ridiculous amount of joy with that little boy’s hand in mine. How I’d longed to be with him and get to know him and show him how dearly he is loved! Our time together is one of those sweet memories that stick in the mind. One day, in my very old age with time on my hands to remember, I shall pull it out and dust it off. I’ll remember the feel of sticky little boy hands clinging tightly to mine as we crossed a busy road.

Sometimes I feel worn down by all the hard and horrible things happening around me—happening to dear ones I love. The world can be a scary place and the amount of pain in people’s lives can be overwhelming.

Maybe you find yourself in a hard, scary or painful place today. Maybe you are the one with a sticky hand and a worried heart. Let’s be the little ones who look up at our Father and say, “Will You hold my hand? Please don’t let go.” We don’t walk alone. We have our Abba-Father with us, whispering, “Do not fear; I will help you.” With our hand in His, we can cross any street of difficulty.

One day, I hope this little boy finds a permanent place of belonging. Some sweet day, I hope he learns to trust his heavenly Father and slips his little hand into the hand of the One who will truly be his Helper—the One who will be with him always and love him most of all. I hope you and I keep our hands in His as well.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being the kind of Father who holds His children’s hands and who whispers, “Do not fear; I will help you.” You are good. You are strong. And You allow us to call you Abba-Father. Thank You for loving us so tenderly. Help us to remember that You hold our hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You are loved,
Sharon

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To encourage a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth that stillness and knowing God matter most—
and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission 
To offer resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)