In the Night

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Psalm 46:1

Lucy was one of my husband’s favorite relatives. She was a gentle person. Exactly the kind of mother, grandmother, aunt, or neighbor you would want. Her hair was white and curled, and patted down to cover the balding thinness. She walked bent over from the great hump on her back from osteoporosis.
 
Lucy always had a ready and listening ear. She always had something kind and encouraging to say. You just felt better being around her.
 
She stayed busy with friends and family, but lived alone. Awhile after her husband of forty-five years passed away, I asked her, "How are you doing…. really?" She paused, then said, "It's hardest in the night. Everything is worse at night."
 
Lucy's peaceful and pleasant demeanor covered her real feelings of ongoing loneliness and anxiety. In the book of Samuel, it says we look at what we can see (physically, in the natural), but God looks at the heart.
 
Sometimes we look all "together" when really we are in our "night." God alone sees into our deepest heart of hearts. He knows what is written there.
 
He is always about the business of comforting us. He actually provides us with His very presence. That word of hope is real good news.
 
Especially in the night.


©Sally I. Kennedy
The Best of Irish Thursdays

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