Still.
In this moment I was
still.
During this past week
my spirit was all but still.
A phone call - Mom had
fallen... fractured skull, multiple brain bleeds; an immediate flight across
the country; hours of driving; decisions; sitting bedside; tears;
conversations; prayers; more tears; arrangements; visitations; a service.
But for this moment, I
was still - not moving; motionless; quiet.
In this moment I sat on the couch in a quiet room in a quiet house - not moving and not making a sound.
The silence was broken
by a deep quiet sigh that seemed to hush my soul as I cast my eyes downward and
to the left.
There it sat.
Still.
I picked it up.
As I opened it God's "still,
small voice" spoke. Hidden blessing
poured into my being.
At first there were
not words - just realization. I was no
longer in the emptiness of quiet. I was
in the calm of presence... both the presence of the Father whose love knows no
bounds and in the comforting presence of my dearest friend, my mentor, my
prayer warrior, my encourager... my mom.
Then the words
came.
They
were my mother's words in her handwriting.
Words of encouragement, support, comfort. Words of trust, peace, blessed assurance.
Words
of FAITH.
I
"listened" to her words. As she "spoke" them I couldn't
help but sit in awe and wonder as I turned pages and looked at the margins
filled with her writing that held her thoughts and prayers. She had so much to share... Actually she'd given so much - not just in
this moment but over a lifetime. With
God's Word she had nurtured our faith as we grew; prayed for us daily - - - even
to her last earthly day. What a gift!
Blessing beyond measure.
In
the STILL, her legacy was found.
As I
continued to turn pages, I began to soak in the words she had so purposefully
underlined.
And my
spirit heard the sound of STILLNESS. The Father's Word spoke.
"Fear
not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD which he will work for you
today... The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still"(Exodus
14:13-14).
"My
presence will go with you and I will give you rest" (Exodus 33:14).
"The
LORD bless you ad keep you: The LORD
make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The LORD lift up his Countenance upon you,
and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26).
Peace
I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives to I give
you Let not your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid (John 14:27)
I
went to the page that held Psalm 46. His
Word spoke "Be STILL and know that I am God".
I was
reminded that the command "be still" in Hebrew comes from the verb
rapha which means "to be weak, to let go, to release".
Be
Still. As I allowed myself to be weak
the tears once again came letting go of all I had held I found release.
It
was my turn for words.
"Father,
Thank
you for your tangible presence. Thank
you for your living Word. Thank you for giving your Son that we may
live. Thank you for my mom - for the
faithful woman who raised me, loved me, nurtured me in you. Thank you for releasing her from the sorrow
and pain. Thank you for this time with
you... and her. Allow me to carry her
legacy on through You and give my children the blessing it holds."
Yes, in this moment I was STILL.
At rest; serene;
restful; untroubled; peaceful.
It is
my prayer for you to be blessed by the Word and Believe...
