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Sunday, May 27, 2007

Storms

Speckled and freckled beneath the waves of his sun bleached hair, is a five-year-old boy who's "all growd up." The sun has stained his cheeks to a rosy shade of pink, but he takes little notice of this, as he's only particular about his adorable wavy blond hair. This new obsession of his has led to the fact that Mommy's brush is MIA most everyday.

I can't bring myself to cut it, nor can I stop myself from brushing my lips against the softness every chance I can get. So I do--unless he runs. Last night he ran.

I chased the giggling boy around the coffee table, through the diningroom, out of the kitchen, and into his bedroom, until he was cornered. Smothering him with hugs and kisses, I savoured the scent of his freshly washed hair, while feeling the soft wave of feathers against my nose and my cheek.

After crossing his arms, his bottom lip slipped forward in defiance. "What's your problem?" asked his sister, who was standing in the hallway.

"I wanted to try going to sleep without hugs and kisses tonight!" he huffed, once again releasing the lip that marked his desire for independance.

With little assistance, he tucked himself in, and waved me off into the night--his crown of curls encircling his rosy red cheeks on the pillow. I let out a yawn, and slipped off to bed myself.

About four hours later, we awoke to the clap of thunder, a flash of lightening, and the little man standing at the foot of our bed, hoping to crawl in beside me.

"I'm scared," he announced, then he slipped in beside me and pulled the covers up to his neck. For a while, I watched his young silhouette rise and fall with each breath he took. I smiled knowing that this little man was not "growed up" at all. He still needed his momma, and together we needed the storm.

I got to thinking about the storms of life that shake us, bringing us down to our knees. Perhaps it's financial, or a matter of health, or perhaps it's losing the trust of someone you've grown accustomed to leaning on. Maybe it's shaking your faith, but hopefully it's doing the opposite--drawing you closer to the arms of the one who protects.

We need the storms. For without them we wouldn't see that we have need for Christ. We are all sinners, and we all walk the same soil that trips us up from time to time leaving us feeling alone in the storm. But like my son who wants so desperately to stand on his own, we aren't alone and shouldn't be. I praise God that He is there to comfort me, to cleanse me, and to shelter me under His wing. I need my Father, and because of Him, I can weather the storm.



Visit me at my personal blog: Darlene Schacht dot com :)

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13 Comments:

Blogger eph2810 said...

What a beautiful story and a wonderful connection to the One who will see us through the storms of life. Yeah, we sometimes think we are all 'growd up' and want to walk without His protection--that normally gets us in trouble.

Thank you for sharing from your heart.

Blessings to you and yours...

May 27, 2007 at 12:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a cute story with a powerful message. Thanks Darlene.

Blessings.

May 27, 2007 at 12:49 PM  
Blogger Denise said...

Praise God, He is the captain of my life.

May 27, 2007 at 1:09 PM  
Blogger Lori said...

We need the storms. For without them we wouldn't see that we have need for Christ.

Thank you. And this is so true, we are reminded in the storms that we can not live life, nor survive storms without HIS power.

May 27, 2007 at 5:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

loved reading this
bless you for being there for your son God calls us to look after His children (they are only loan to us)
and Praise God that he is always there for us too

May 27, 2007 at 7:55 PM  
Blogger Crystal said...

This is such a great story....and a powerful message about the storms of life.
Thanks for sharing!
Blessings

May 28, 2007 at 9:55 AM  
Blogger Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

I loved this..my own 'independent one' is afraid of storms..I always look forward to his running to me...I imagine God enjoys it just as much..:)

May 28, 2007 at 9:56 AM  
Blogger Roo said...

amen! i love the analogy. the flowers could never bloom as brightly if they didn't encounter rain and clouds every so often!

God bless you! shalom....

May 28, 2007 at 1:04 PM  
Blogger Carol said...

Y'gotta love those growd up boys!

May 29, 2007 at 10:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow Darlene...

...We need the storms. For without them we wouldn't see that we have need for Christ...

Gulp. I have tears in my eyes... This was a touching and inspiring post. Awesome.

May 30, 2007 at 10:58 AM  
Blogger 2nd Cup of Coffee said...

I love the song lyric about how sometimes he calms the storm and sometimes he calms the child. We will have our storms, won't we?

May 30, 2007 at 6:17 PM  
Blogger Chris @ Come to the Table said...

This was beautiful!

You made wonder what our Heavenly Father thinks when we run to Him during life's storms and rest safely in His arms? I imagine He enjoys us as much as we love holding onto our own child.

May 31, 2007 at 11:25 AM  
Blogger Linda said...

So lovingly written Darlene. It's true we do need to draw close to the Lord - because the inevitable storms will come. It is wonderful to know that just as you welcomed your little boy into the shelter of your bed, so the Lord welcomes us into the shelter of His unfailing love.
Thank you for a beautiful devotional.
P.S. My soon to be 35 year old son had those same soft blond curls when he was a little one. I just couldn't bear to cut them off!!

May 31, 2007 at 3:24 PM  

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