“Jesus comforts us when we suffer. In turn, we are called comfort others.” ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Frigid Arctic cold seeped into her
car as she waited for her son while he attended his mandated Narcotics
Anonymous meeting at the nearby church. Jenny worried that he might ditch the
meeting if she didn’t hang around.
Anxious and restless, Jenny tried to read her book. These
next 90 minutes could be the final trauma that broke Luke as he struggled with sobriety.
Parents are responsible for keeping their kids on the right path.
Where had she failed? Jenny longed for someone to confide in and almost wished she
could join Luke inside.
Celestial voices softened her anxieties as a choir sang “Nearer
My God to Thee.” It expressed the aim of every Christian to draw closer to God.
Powerful, yet soothing and reassuring.
When the practice ended, choir members gathered up front sharing
testimonials of God’s work in their lives. Their everyday miracles moved Jenny
to tears. A peace, that she hadn’t felt since Luke’s addiction surfaced, washed
over her.
She wiped the tears and stood to leave. Time to face the
cold reality awaiting outside. “What bought you here tonight?” one of them
asked.
“I’m just waiting for my son downstairs,” she offered, not
needing to explain what that meant.
“I’ll pray for his healing,” a woman said, resting her hand
on Jenny’s shoulder. “You aren’t alone in this,” said another. Other members
joined the circle, offering encouragement and empathy.
Suddenly Jenny realized that the glow she’d seen from her
car hadn’t come from lights but from the radiant hearts of the strangers
surrounding her.
She stepped back into the cold and spotted her son standing
next to the car and hurried to him. Before she could speak, Luke hugged her. She
saw in his eyes the same sense of hope and renewal that reflected from her own.
On the ride home, Luke explained how hard he’d been trying
to heal, and how worried he was about being a new father. Jenny told him how
much she loved him, and that she’d always be his Mom and grandmother to his
baby.
They talked about the angels they’d both met that night and
the inner peace they’d rendered; an affection reminding them they weren’t alone
no matter how much healing remained.
Even when we can’t see or feel Him, the Lord never leaves
our side. As we walk through each day, let’s remember to call upon Him and always
give thanks.
