God of all comfort

“Mom, life is so messed up! I really messed things up!”

Maybe I made a bad choice. Or someone else did that affected me. But life was falling apart all around me. Whatever it was, as a child or a teen and even as a grown woman, I could go to mom… kneel next to her in her rocking chair, lay my head in her lap and weep over it all. She would stroke my hair and rub my back. Say something gentle and kind. Somehow understanding. She could make the whole world go away.

I really, really miss that.

But I don’t have to. For she was responding to my needs as I think Jesus would. I believe she took her cue from God, the Father:

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20)

What was true in Luke 15 was true when my mom was alive and available - and still is true to this very day. Jesus is the living Lord. The God Who holds me. Carries me.

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gather the lambs in his arm and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Luke 13:34)

I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. (Hosea 11:4)

All those times, mom was representing the love and care of Christ to me. And now I know, the Lord is near - reminding me of that same love and care given by my mom.

You’ve got a friend - Carole King