“I’ll be with you, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 The Message
So first of all, speaking of “day after day”, I have realized this past month that I’m not good at keeping a daily journal. I’m kind of free spirit writer so I thought I’d put my thoughts together weekly.
Things have been busy with all of the normal activities that consume us like chauffeuring children, school and extra-curricular activities, church stuff, moms group stuff, house stuff, tax stuff and now searching our new location (Hawaii) for all that same stuff! But I stopped in my tracks today when my daughter told me as we were driving that she wanted to pray for daddy….and she led the sweetest prayer. Life can get overwhelming, but I’m encouraged by the thought that I’m not alone. Even though I often feel alone for the obvious physical reason, I know I am not.
All kinds of great people have come into our life, even just a few in passing. Like tonight, we went bowling….not something I normally do, but it’s been a new thing during this deployment. Well, my son made a friend in the lane next to us….a nice active duty man who seemed to be semi-pro just based on his own bowling shoes and ball! He was so kind the entire time….high-fiving, cheering, giving pointers….all that good stuff. My son just lit up and loved the attention. Meanwhile, my daughter who opted out during frame 5, made another friend at a table nearby. A very elderly gentleman, who I gathered may be a retiree hanging out to eat the healthy and delicious bowling food! Well, he and my little daughter were quite the pair. When his food was ready at the counter, my daughter yelled to him….”Our chicken is ready!” I don’t think he knew she had attached herself to him. When I went up to them sitting together at the table, he laughed and said he wasn’t sure if he should be offended because she told him that she had a sister his age…….and that her sister was a 184!!!!!!!!!! That number has been her favorite number for a long time and we had a nice laugh about it. So she doesn’t have a sister and nor is she a Highlander!
Little do these kind strangers know that they were friends to some children who desperately missed their daddy. God is so good to be a friend to us when we need it, to have someone share a kind word or a bowling center chicken meal! I thank God that we are not lonely, that He is with us every day and He has sent friends!