Come Back

“Come Back”

“God just wants us close to him.  Whenever we wander away from him, he says to us:

Come back to me

Because I am gentle and kind.

I’m slow to become angry with you

But very quick to forgive you!

So come back home to me

And be sorry inside your heart.

I’m waiting to forgive you.

Wherever you are,

Whatever you’ve done,

Just come!”

~Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing pg. 36

We were sitting in a circle.  Five women.  Four of them, are perhaps, the most beautiful in the world, I was the fifth.  A tall looming German with the typical nose, piercing eyes and impeccable posture pulled back on her graying hair and laughed her larger than life laugh somehow looking imposing as well as warm.  The fair princess sat beside me on the floor looking like some Elfin Royalty out of a Tolkien book.  Her laugh seemed to ripple.  Her sister sat across, with the same light hair, she had stronger features, more softness around the edges to counter her obvious strength of opinion.  Two sisters they are, clearly, yet so different.  Lastly was the girl for whom we partied and her little son growing beneath her henna-ed belly button.  It was hard not to stare at her glorious belly that was covered in an exploding pattern of natural dye.  Her long dreadlocks seemed in contrast to her cute almost apologetic fringe.   Her natural gentle, winsomeness shone through even as she sat with the mommy tiredness of a sag that denotes she may never rise from this particular seat again.  I was at a Blessing Way Party to celebrate the coming of Jasper, son-to-be of Winsome Woman.

We all had scripture and messages with plenty added from those in Australia and then, like a magnificent jewel in a crown, a message to be read from Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing  by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Jago.  Undoubtedly one of the most talented duos of all time.  

I knew the book existed but after the Blessing was read from the book and we were all tucking into great snacks (I did say there was a German in the bunch), I kidnapped the book and read as much as I could. 

Within a week I had purchased the book with my children’s Christmas money.  When I got the book I sat down and read it all in a sitting (it is not intended to be read as such).  The next week I did it again, and then again.  This book speaks to my heart.  We received it recently in a package from Abe and Zana’s Grandma Colleen.  Since the other one is already labeled as being from our Core Team (a lovely group of prayer warriors and friends) Chad and I decided to give book two away to someone we love.

I prayed about who to give it away to. It went to a friend traipsing off without her family to another country to get tested for cancer.  Can you imagine?  My heart dips low with the thought and then sings with the thought and reality that the One who created her will carry her.  It is my prayer that while she is there her heart will be safe in the hands of her Beloved Savior.   A prayer I know will be answered with a yes.