Fear of Separation

I started my Christmas shopping.
I am one of those people who begin shopping in the fall.
My husband always appreciated that since it spaced out the purchases a bit.
I enjoy everything about the whole gift giving process.

I love choosing the right gift for the person.
I imagine their face when they open it.
I love hiding the presents, even now.
The only thing I do not like is the wrapping.

Wrapping and ironing.
My least favorite jobs.
Still despite my aversion to the tediousness of wrapping, I try to make it fun.
Playing Christmas music much too loud and choosing fanciful paper always helps.

It was on one such shopping day that I heard it.
A mother had just entered the store with her little girl.
Now, you know Mommy doesn’t like when you play that hiding game.
It makes Mommy very afraid when I can’t see you.

Since they just entered the store, I thought that this was going to be a long day for her.
I heard joyful giggles coming from the racks of clothes.
I want you to come out now; you know we are meeting Daddy for lunch.
I heard the rustle among the clothes and assume the little girl obeyed.

I remember that well.
There is something about racks of clothes that are so compelling to children.
In a flash, clothes that hide their small frame envelop them.
The mother was right; it is scary.

It is frightening to lose your child, even for a few seconds.
You turn and they have left your side.
Something more colorful and more interesting appealed to them.
They set off to satisfy their curiosity.

Whether in a store or on a playground, it only takes a split second.
You can be the most diligent parent, yet still lose your child for a few frantic minutes.
The giggles gave this little girl away.
She walked away, safe with her mother.

I witnessed a mother of twins frantically looking for one of her children.
One child was happily by her side.
The other had wandered off.
I heard the nervous call of the mother from a few aisles away.

As I turned down an aisle, I saw a little child.
Looking at all the colorful things on display.
Totally unaware that his disappearance was causing any trouble whatsoever.
I kept my eye on this little one, not wanting to startle him.

I went to the end of the aisle.
I saw the mother with that worried look, her eyes wide open.
He’s here, I said pointing.
She looked so relieved as she rushed down the aisle and grabbed him, kissing his cheek.

I don’t know what I’m going to do, she said overwhelmed.
We have all been there, I commented, but it must be hard keeping an eye on two.
It is…I love them so much…but some days…
Some days indeed; she said more than she knew.

You’re doing a great job, I told her confidently.
You think so?
I do. The hardest most rewarding job you will ever do, I said from experience.
Thank you. I needed to hear that today.

That mother is not alone.
We ALL need to hear that today, and tomorrow, and the next day.
We need encouragement.
Especially when raising our children, we need to know that what we do matters.

IT MATTERS!
It matters greatly.
To raise up the next generation is a vital task.
To raise up the next generation for Christ is paramount.

Often the most important jobs are the ones where we feel the most alone.
The jobs that seem so thankless.
The jobs that seem so daily.
These jobs are the foundation on which our society is built.

God knows that.
God knows that we will get tired and scared and frustrated.
God knows that we will second-guess our worth and our importance.
In that vulnerable position, we discover how very much we need Him.

We cannot do the mundane tasks alone.
We cannot do the thankless jobs unless we know we are doing them for Him.
A change in perspective is needed.
A looking up, instead of a looking down.

We who are more seasoned, who have walked where they are walking, can be their guides.
We can guide them, not to ourselves, but to Him.
We can point them to the One in whom they will find their worth.
We can point them to the One who will never leave them.

No, in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)

None of us need to feel alone.
I cannot imagine doing this life without God by my side.
I cannot imagine the loneliness to have only myself to rely on.
I cannot imagine the hopelessness to have nowhere to place my burdens.

It is our job as believers in the Lord Jesus to point others to Him.
Do they know that you rely on Another?
Do they know that you serve a Lord who never leaves you for a moment?
Do they know that they can know Him, too?

Nothing can separate us from His love.
Not even for a moment.
No fear.
How ‘s that for encouragement?