He Speaks Tenderly
I've been mulling over the thought that God speaks to us tenderly.
The idea comes from a passage in Hosea: "I will lead her into the
desert and speak tenderly to her." (Hos.2:14)
My mind goes back almost ten years when the doctor gave me the
diagnosis of cancer. You'll remember your day - the shock, everything
in turmoil, can't think, what's next?
What I've taken away from that dreadful day is the memory that, in
spite of the devastating words the doctor had to speak, God spoke
tender words to me. He used others to do so.
When the doctor left my hospital room, a lady visiting her Mom in
the bed opposite mine, came over to my bed, stood quietly for a moment
and handed me a small piece of paper with a phone number pencilled
on it. She said, "I heard what the doctor told you. I've been praying
for you all week. (!!) My brother was diagnosed with colon cancer
seven years ago and he is well. This is the phone number of a friend
of ours who brews a herbal tea for friends that seems very helpful.
He'll make you some. Try it. You'll be all right."
Several days later, on the day of my surgery, this stranger was
waiting on the hospital steps at 8:00 am., waiting to catch Joe on
his way in. She gave him a small gift to give to me - a coloured
ceramic angel pin. How tender is all that? And I don't even know
her name! But we called the number she gave me and her friend,
who has now become our friend also, has been supplying us with his
brew of Essiac tea for nearly 10 years.
Many more words and acts of tenderness came my way during those days -
from hubby, children, family, friends and strangers. A priest visiting
my room mate came to my bed and offered to pray. (I joked with him
that since I sometimes watched mass on TV, I must qualify.)
Charles Swindoll writes, "The most precious object of God's love
is His child in the desert. If it were possible, you mean more to
Him during this time than at any other time... You are His beloved
student taking his toughest course. He loves you with an infinite
amount of love." (Wisdom for the Way.)
We don't know why we have to navigate "desert places." But it's
in those desert places that He speaks tenderly. Listen for His words.
They sometimes come from unexpected places!
God bless!
Angie
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