isolated in darkness, clenched against love
Flinching and recoiling at any movement made towards him, itty bitty seven-year-old Junior spent the better part of a half hour crying our first day at the orphanage. Blind and unable to anticipate whether a touch extended to hold or harm, he assumed the worst.Afraid to hurt him, we left him alone...and the cries stopped. He sat there. Alone. In silence. Isolated in darkness. He preferred it that way, or at least he thought he did...Today, my heart's desire was to hold him...prayerfully I made it my goal to do so. Armed with a sling and tenacity, I inched close softly talking so he could learn to associate my voice and tone with safety. At first he cried, but speaking peace over him, he waned to a whimper. My kiss on his cheek silenced him. Paused his fears of the worst.Armed with a sling given by dear souls wanting these orphans to know healing touch, to know love...I scooped him up. Stretching the fabric around his practically immobile, body was hard at first as he stiffened...bracing for the unknown. He started to whimper, but again a kiss on the cheek silenced him. Sooner than I'd dared to hope, he relaxed...limp in trust.
Oh that I would not recoil in fear, blind in my unbelief, clenched against the Love so freely offered to my desperately needy heart. How often do I cry out or just cling to a continual whimper instead of receiving comfort my dear heavenly Father longs to enfold me within? Why do I fight Him? Why do I fight His people He desires to use to love me?My Lord is the God of healing, nurturing touch. May I, may we, receive Him this moment and not wait any longer moaning in fear."As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you." Isaiah 66:13a"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3"under His wings you may seek refuge" Psalm 91:4b