Every year after Christmas, Michael and I pack up the kids and head north to visit my folks. And every year that we keep this tradition I ask the Lord for protection on the trip, and I briefly petition for snow – although that never seems necessary – and I pray that we all will enjoy our time together.
You’ve heard the saying that family who overstay their welcome are like dead fish. They really stink. And I never my parents want to feel that way about our time at their home.
This year was no different. My prayers were similar to previous years – but, this year it seemed I needed a little more. A bit extra TLC, maybe some medicine for my heart and mind so I’d be more prepared for 2015. And so I prayed.
…..
On Monday I was reading in Mark, chapter 5, and I came across this passage from Jesus life.
30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
Over the course of our week here, I have been able to slow down and spend time with my family and my parents. It has ministered to me in ways I’m sure no one but me understands, with the exception of The One who answered my request. There has been a lot of rest, a lot of chatting and catching up, a lot of playing in the snow, and an extraordinary amount of laughter.
I’ve thought a lot about the passage from Mark. There aren’t particular parallels between myself and the woman who was healed in this chapter – except this: In spite of the fact that the new year has begun, and there are thousands of people around the world making all manner of requests, pressing Him on all sides, He hears them all; and in fact, the Heavenly Father heard mine. He reached down and answered my fairly insignificant requests (compared to the woman’s need in Mark 5), meeting very specific needs.
There is not much better news for starting the new year than being reminded that there is a Heavenly Father who knows my needs and meets them. We head home tomorrow morning, bright and early – and my heart is ready! What a great gift for beginning 2015.
daily portion 