Bending the Bow Int'l

Last night Hannah came into our room crying.

"What's wrong, Hannah Banana?"

"My finger nail is coming off and it hurts sooooo bad," spoken through tears.

First Seth got up with her and clipped her fingernail, but the tears and her acknowledgment of the pain continued. I finally got out of bed and attempted to try "fix" the problem. I started with a band-aid and we went back to bed. That didn't relieve the pain of the raw, exposed nail bed. Then, I put some vaseline on her finger; still the pain continued. She laid in bed next to me trying to sleep, but the pain kept her wide awake. Finally, she cried to me, "Mama, I don't even think I can sleep because it hurts so bad."

She so simply articulated her pain and the problem it was causing her. We got back up and tried a few things....Nothing worked, so I held her. Finally she fell asleep.

Many times as I struggle, I do everything in my own power to work through it and fix it on my own. Tonight I could feel God's compassion toward me when I struggle. He is not put out by my pain or problems. His heart is moved with grace and mercy...with understanding. He loves it as I share my struggles with Him...when I include Him in the things I am working through. Sure He already knows my pain; He sees it; He feels it, but as I include Him in the process, when I invite Him to be a part of the solution He runs to be with me. Sometimes the pain doesn't go away, but it is so satisfying to feel His arms envelope me....and to feel His heart broken by my hurt. That's the journey we're on...sharing the good and the bad with a loving God. HE KNOWS my name and SHARES my life...all of my life; and He loves ME, hangnails and all.