“This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NLT)
Second Guessing?
Living several hours away from my grandsons keeps me from being with them as often as I’d like. It also keeps me second guessing about the impact I have on each of them, the relationship we are building. Sometimes I’m afraid that “out of sight, out of mind” is more likely than “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” If you’re a long distance grandparent like me, you know exactly how heartbreaking it can feel.
This past week I was blessed to spend five days with the boys and saw them off to school, rode along to pick them up and heard about their day, helped with homework, bath time, and read bedtime stories as the day came to an end. But, the best part of myr stay was realizing that my second guessing may be unwarranted after all.
Three boys – three reassurances. They are little things by the world’s standards, but priceless to me. Each done independently, without prompting, and out of the blue.
First: the school work shown in the photo done by our youngest the week before we arrived. If you’ll look in the bottom right hand corner you’ll see faint drawings representing “MiMi and Pop Pop outside” his shape house with him. Despite the distance, we’re on his mind.
Second: A quick response. When saying our goodnights, I told our oldest that I loved him so very much and without missing a beat he responded, “I love you most!” Now I have to tell you, that’s impossible, but what a joy that despite the distance, he thinks it is.
Third: It was our last night. I’d read the story, said the prayer, and it was time to sing the songs I’ve been singing to them since they were babies. Usually at this time our middle rolls over, and with his back to me he settles in to sleep. But on this night, as I stood in the dark with my hands stretched between two beds, a little hand slipped into mine and held on even after the songs ended. Despite the distance, a connection has formed.
“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful,
and endures through every circumstance.
Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:7-8a (NLT)
There’s another relationship I can also find myself second guessing about. I don’t know about you, but to me, Heaven seems awfully far away and because of that, it sometimes feels as if I’m out of sight and out of God’s mind. If it seems like you’re a long-distance child with lots to learn like me, you know how burdened our hearts can feel.
Thankfully, God is great at reassuring us. It’s usually in little ways the world doesn’t understand, but each one an invaluable reminder that our second guessing isn’t warranted at all. Let’s look at just a few.
First: Jesus “draws a picture” that includes us and it shows that despite the distance, we’re on His mind.
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me also.
There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.
If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to
prepare a place for you? When everything is ready
I will come and get you, so that you will always
be with me where I am.”
John 14:1-3 (NLT)
Second: We know that we’re to love God with every part of our beings and we can show that love for Him in many ways, through our prayers, with our time, what we give, offering praise, but it is absolutely impossible for us to love God more than He loves us. God IS love and despite the distance, it’s a comfort to know He is.
“Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person,
though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.
But God showed his great love for us by
sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Romans 5:7-8 (NLT)
Third: I don’t know about you, but I cherish the times I receive what I like to call a “God wink.” Those times I sense His presence. Often it’s through the stories in the Bible, an answered prayer, or the lyrics of a song that come just when I need them. When you and I feel that we’re in the dark or we literally are, what a relief it is to know we are in the hands of One who will never let go. Despite the distance, we are forever connected.
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.
Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-
not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”
Romans 8:38 (NLT)
This “MiMi” and “child of God who has much to learn” is so grateful to be reminded that there’s no need for second guessing, maybe you are too, because the truth for us is, when it comes to love, there is absolutely no distance it won’t go.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and
only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him
will not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 (NLT)
I’m joining the other writers over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com and writing to the prompt “Second.” I encourage you to click over to read more.
