Weekly Word - January 7 to 14, 2005

Weekly Word - January 7 - 14, 2005

That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, . . . And the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery . . .
( Colossians 2: 2)

It was going to be a wonderful day - his best friend was going to sleep over! For the little boy - the excitement was huge. As the two were laying on the front lawn - they watched the clouds overhead - seeing dragons and castles - - - and all that a five year old can imagine! He took her hand - - - her name was “Debbie” - - - and he knew he was the happiest little boy . . . And then everything changed . . .

He couldn’t understand why she had to go home - but she did - and sadly he went inside. There he found his parents arguing - nothing that he hadn’t heard so many times before! But this day was different - he found himself in the middle - and the question was too hard for him to understand . . . He couldn’t answer when they asked him to choose . . . And so he watched - as his mother walked out the door . . .

Sitting on the couch - between his little brothers and sister - he started to cry. “Why are you crying?” his father asked - - - and again, he couldn’t answer. He didn’t know why . . . but his world had changed in an instant - - - and he didn’t understand . . .

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, And saves those who are crushed in spirit . . .
(Psalm 34: 18)

It was a wonderful day! It was a day for adventure - and for the 10 year old - he felt so free - like the world lay before him! As he climbed on his bike - he had no idea where he was going - only that it was an adventure - waiting just for him . . .

He rode that bike farther than he had ever ridden before - - - past houses and down roads - that he had only seen from the car window. He wondered for a moment - if he should be there - but he kept on riding . . .farther and farther he rode . . .

When his father finally found him - he asked him where he was going - and again, the boy didn’t have an answer. He didn’t know - - - but the father wondered , as he put the bicycle into the station wagon - Was he heading to find his mother? Silently, the man just turned away - - - and with his son next to him in the car - he drove home . . .

I sought the Lord, and He answered me,
He delivered me from all my fears.
(Psalm 34: 4)

When I met this kind and caring man - I met a man full of “losses” and hurts. As we grew in friendship - we listened to each other - - - knowing that each of us had suffered in life - knowing that each had pain that was left over from years ago. This was a man who had trouble saying “good-bye” . . .

There came a day - when we both knew that the friendship had gone much farther than either of us had expected. We loved each other - but had decided not to act on that love - and to keep the boundaries up - - - working to keep us “safe” - and friends . . .

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things . . .
(1 Corinthians 13: 7)

On this day - I had gone to pick him up - as we were working together. As I got to the door - I heard the song playing - - - and my heart hurt . . .

Kiss me like you’ll never see my face again - soft and tender as you can . . .
So let’s send up a prayer - for this love that we share -
Cause it could change in the blink of an eye - - -
So let’s make sure we kiss goodbye . . .

“Let’s make sure we kiss goodbye" - by Vince Gill

These are some of the words I heard - when I walked into that room - and into where he was. I looked at him - this man who had been so hurt as a little boy - and I couldn’t turn away . . .
Walking into his arms - I wanted to stay there forever - for the rest of our lives . . . That moment we gave our hearts to each other - and knew we would love each other - for the rest of our lives!

But now abide - faith, hope, love, these three . . . But the greatest of these is love.
(1 Corinthians 13: 13)

The day that Ted and I became husband and wife - we asked the Lord to be part of our marriage - our life together. We knew that each had hurts - but also knew that with God - comes healing and life. On that day - we each gave the other a present - from our hearts. I gave Ted a key chain - one that I had engraved - and this is what it says: All of me - to all of you - forever . . .

A few years after we were married - Ted and I found some old pictures he had put away. Together we sat and starting looking through them. The pictures were of when he was little - with his brothers and sister - his father - his grandparents - and even his
mother. Then he found it - the picture of his mother holding him - as a baby. She was so young - barely 18 - and so beautiful! As we looked at the picture - you could see it in her eyes - she loved him so much! “She loved me!” he said - and then I held him.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted . . .

Today is a blank sheet of paper - waiting for us to choose - what we will do with that one day. Each day is full of promise and hope - and can change our tomorrows - - - and can even heal our yesterdays . . . If we choose Love - if we choose Him . . .

Today I wrote a simple love story - of two people who are just like you are - people who love and also hurt - people who chose Life.

In a place almost half a world away - hundreds of thousands of peoples lives were changed in an instant - changed by something called a tsunami. Men, women, and children’s lives were devastated - and the grief and loss are unimaginable! You and I are only one person - but each of us can make a difference - we can make a choice . . .

We can choose today to give from our abundance - we can donate to groups who are very good at helping in disasters - - - and there are many good groups to donate to. But there is more we can choose to do - we can choose to care - we can choose to pray. As you see the faces on the television - see the brokenhearted - and ask God to be near them - holding them - through this awful time! His arms are big enough - and He will be there - as will you - if you choose to care - to pray - this day . . .

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the Lord is against evildoers, . . .
The righteous cry and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
(Psalm 34: 15 - 18)

What will you choose this day? My hope is - you will choose Life - that you will choose the Lord - - - and ask Him to go with you - the rest of your Life - changing your tomorrows - and healing your yesterdays . . .

God bless you in the coming week ahead!

In His Love,
Debbie & Ted Ayers