Wednesday, 01/15

(The picture above is a depiction of Aaron and Hur as they hold up the arms of Moses.  As long as his arms were up, God's folks were victorious.  Moses was tired, and weakening. When his arms dropped to his sides in agony, it was apparent that the children of God were losing their victory.  Aaron and Hur stepped up to hold up the arms of Moses that the battle would be won, and all would be victorious.  I often think of Aaron and Hur as the first prayer partners.)

           Being in the hospital nearly daily with Caren, seeing/hearing her pain expressed, listening to her thoughts - causes one to pause and reflect on many things.  Today Caren was genuinely discouraged.  It was that lull we experience when it feels like we are alone with the constant agony that has invaded our life like a plague, when that agony seemingly becomes bigger than our belief system.
     Probably the same platitudes run through your head as ran through mine, like admonitions to take heart, etc.  Wondering what the right words could be for Caren as she apologized yet again for being weepy (hurting, needing something, . . . ), something occurred to me.  Here is what that 'still small voice' whispered in my ear, and I shared with my daughter.

     "No apologies are necessary.  You go right ahead and weep, complain, hurt, holler, whatever you are experiencing, moment by moment."
      "But, Mom - I'm really trying to believe."
      "Caren, that is our job.  As your prayer partners, it is our job to be your strength when you are feeling most weak; to believe for you; to intercede for you in prayer; to hold that sacred space for you.  You are busy right now with pain management . . ."  Rick has been in the hospital daily/nightly, upholding her.
      As I pondered that thought even this morning, I wondered how our relationships would be impacted if we allowed the people in our lives to be what they were experiencing, in that moment, without trying to change them or proselyte them to some other way of being, doing, saying, or whatever.  What if we were just loving, accepting, and holding sacred space?
     I personally wonder how lives would be changed.
     A special thanks goes out to all Caren's prayer partners.  God bless all of you!