Today’s Musing is from Margaret Fowler.
“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” —Deuteronomy 33:27a (NIV)
One of my childhood memories is about falling on some broken glass and getting a deep cut. I ran home crying and screaming. I was about five years old and very frightened as I dashed into my father’s arms for comfort. Usually, my mother did all the bandaging, but she must have been out that day. I remember so well how he comforted me and made me feel safe in his care. Then, he began to repair the damage. He took his time and cleaned it gently, but I still have a scar 85 years later! You know what? I love my scar because it reminds me of my dear Daddy and his love for me.
Another memory is about Sharon when she was a little girl. This story is not about “bruised” but “broken.” My best china cups and saucers were all laid out on a small table, ready for a tea party. Sharon ran into the room, bouncing and running as children do, and of course—you guessed it! She crashed into the table, and the cups hit the floor, broken beyond repair. Of course, she was heartbroken and sobbed, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Broken china is not as important as a broken heart. So now it was my turn to hold her in my arms and comfort her little heart. “It’s ok, it’s all right, just an accident.”
A heart can be broken in so many ways—the loss of a loved one, the loss of a friendship because of a misunderstanding, the loss of a child who has walked away from home or away from God. I believe God understands broken hearts. He was there when His beloved Son suffered and died on the cross.
I am thankful for many years of knowing the Lord. He has taken me lovingly through the heartaches that happen to all of us. He carried our family through a tragedy that deeply affected all of us. We felt the Lord’s loving arms around us as we prayed for the one who suffered so very much. I found comfort on my knees in prayer.
Have you ever strayed from the Lord? I have often strayed, but He welcomes me back into His loving arms every time. Come to Him in your weakness, and He will comfort you and give you strength as you trust Him. His comfort is truly a blessing.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. —2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
Notice in this verse that God gives us comfort so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we have received from Him. We need to share our blessings. The words of a hymn come to mind: “Make me a blessing to someone today.” Who comforts others? You and me.
Lord, please show me what I can do to comfort and show kindness. “Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray. Make me a blessing to someone today.”
Margaret is Sharon’s Mum. She and her husband have had 68 years of marriage and four children. They enjoy hiking, biking, canoeing, and just being outdoors, watching wildlife. Margaret played the piano for many years as part of a nursing home ministry. She has written many articles for her church newsletter, and some of these have been compiled into a trilogy of books: Holding My Father’s Hand, Holding My Daughter’s Hand, and Holding My Heavenly Father’s Hand, all available here on Amazon.
Saved by grace,
Margaret Fowler
Sweet Selah Ministries
Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service
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To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)
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